In a significant development that has shaken Israel's political establishment, key figures in a classified intelligence leak case have provided testimony that appears to contradict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's account of his knowledge of the incident.
Eli Feldstein, a former employee in the Prime Minister's Office charged with leaking classified military intelligence to Germany's Bild newspaper, has told investigators he informed Netanyahu about the document two days before its publication, contradicting the Prime Minister's Office's assertion that Netanyahu first learned of it through media reports.
The case has exposed what appears to be a coordinated effort by Netanyahu's inner circle to bypass Israeli military censorship. According to the indictment, after the document's publication, Jonathan Urich, a senior Netanyahu advisor, messaged Feldstein: "Take your time, the boss is pleased," suggesting high-level awareness of the leak.
The prosecution alleges that Feldstein, working with a reserve soldier from Military Intelligence whose name remains under gag order, orchestrated the leak after Israeli military censors blocked its domestic publication. The document contained what prosecutors describe as "highly sensitive classified information directly from Military Intelligence systems, including raw intelligence."
Court documents reveal a calculated approach to circumventing Israeli censorship. On June 6, Feldstein messaged Urich: "A senior officer, my source at Military Intelligence, wants to urgently transfer materials to the PM. Insane material." After failing to publish through Israeli media, Feldstein was directed by Urich to Israel Einhorn, a former Netanyahu advisor with connections to Bild newspaper.
The case took a new turn Tuesday evening when the Tel Aviv District Court ordered Feldstein's release to house arrest after a month in detention. Judge Alaa Masarwa noted "evidentiary weakness" in the prosecution's case, particularly regarding charges that Feldstein intended to harm state security. The judge also raised concerns about selective prosecution, noting that Urich has neither been arrested nor indicted.
Prosecutors argue the leak caused severe damage to state security, potentially compromising Israeli intelligence gathering capabilities during wartime. The indictment revealed that the document wasn't officially shared with Netanyahu because intelligence officials considered it outdated, with more current information already provided to political leadership.
The case has raised serious questions about the relationship between Netanyahu's office and sensitive military intelligence during wartime, as well as the role of his advisors in managing classified information. Despite the apparent contradictions between Feldstein's testimony and the Prime Minister's account, Netanyahu has not been called to testify in the case.
The prosecution has requested a stay of execution on Feldstein's release and is considering an appeal. Meanwhile, Feldstein faces five counts of disclosing classified information, including with intent to harm state security, while the reserve soldier is charged with multiple counts of disclosing classified information and theft by an authorized person.
The ongoing investigation continues to reverberate through Israel's political and security establishments, raising questions about the handling of sensitive intelligence and the boundaries between political messaging and national security during wartime.