Netanyahu aide charged with endangering national security
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads the weekly cabinet meeting at the Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv on January 7. (AFP Photo)
Eliezer Feldstein, a senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been charged with endangering national security in connection with a high-profile investigation into the leaking of classified documents, prosecutors announced.
According to the indictment, Feldstein is accused of disclosing sensitive intelligence, including raw data from the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman), with the intention of jeopardizing national security. These classified materials were later published by a foreign media outlet, despite explicit restrictions from Israeli military censorship, the statement noted.
“This action was carried out with the defendant’s full knowledge and aimed to influence public discourse regarding Israel’s handling of a hostage situation,” the prosecution added.
The leaked documents, allegedly manipulated to mislead the public, were reportedly distributed to international outlets, including Bild in Germany and The Jewish Chronicle in the UK. These reports claimed the information was connected to Hamas’s strategies involving hostages in Gaza.
Bild alleged that Hamas sought to extend prisoner swap and ceasefire negotiations as a psychological warfare tactic. Meanwhile, The Jewish Chronicle reported on plans by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to smuggle Israeli hostages out of Gaza via Egypt.
Israeli security officials have expressed alarm over the incident, with media reports suggesting it has escalated tensions between Netanyahu’s administration and military leadership.
Feldstein faces charges of unauthorized disclosure of classified information, possession of secret documents, and obstruction of justice. An unnamed Israeli intelligence officer has also been implicated in the case, accused of theft, leaking classified information, and obstructing justice
The investigation, which previously saw five individuals detained, including Feldstein, has drawn significant attention. Allegations surfaced that Netanyahu’s office provided foreign media with manipulated documents tied to Hamas to sway public opinion.
The fallout from the breach has reportedly led to “significant concern and outrage” within Israel’s security apparatus, fueling speculation of growing rifts between political and military leadership.
The case underscores ongoing challenges within Israel’s security framework as it confronts complex issues involving sensitive intelligence and its impact on public trust.
