The Telegraph newspaper in London reported last night (Sunday) that Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir was banned from receiving intelligence briefings after a series of sensitive document leaks.
Ben Gvir was accused of violating the security directives he was appointed to protect and faces a boycott by the National Security Council. As you may recall, the Otzma Yehudit leader was accused several times of illegally photographing classified participants in high-level intelligence meetings.
In addition, one of the scandals surrounding Ben Gvir's alleged leaks dealt with the leaking of the conversation between himself and the police commissioner about a year ago regarding the rising violence in the Arab sector. Police sources said at the time that they were "surprised" that the minister and his office were recording personal conversations - and that they were no longer sure they could provide the minister with reports for fear of leaks and revealing confidential sources.
Last month, the Shin Bet's internal intelligence chiefs also refused to meet with him after relations between the two sides deteriorated following clashes at weekly security meetings.
The Shin Bet accused the minister of leaking information and violating protocol such as bringing mobile phones into meetings. A senior intelligence official told the Telegraph newspaper: "The greatest threat to Israel from within is Ben Gvir. He follows his own rules and tries to ignore everyone around him, even though he has no background in national security and defense issues. He's a weight around our shoulders."
