Eliezer Feldstein is the central figure in what's being called one of Israel's most serious security breaches.
As a close aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Feldstein joined the Prime Minister's Office media team after the war began, despite not passing the Shin Bet security clearance. His role was technically advisory, though he was frequently seen accompanying Netanyahu on military base tours and in high-level security meetings. Before this position, he had built his career as an IDF spokesperson and later worked as spokesperson for National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, albeit briefly.
The accusations against Feldstein are severe. He's suspected of orchestrating the leak of sensitive security documents in what prosecutors believe was a calculated effort to derail a potential hostage deal with Hamas. The case centers particularly on two media reports that appeared in September – one in Germany's Bild newspaper and another in Britain's Jewish Chronicle.
These reports, published at a crucial moment when public pressure for a hostage deal was peaking following the discovery of six hostages' bodies in Rafah, aligned with Netanyahu's position that Hamas wasn't sincere about negotiations and was planning to smuggle hostages into Egypt.
Feldstein has been imprisoned in unnaturally harsh conditions for these alleged crimes, along with an IDF reservist, whose identity is still being hidden from the public.
He has been held blindfolded and handcuffed for a lengthy period of time, and recently told his lawyer that he would prefer death to surviving in those conditions.
Notably, last week, a noose was 'discovered' in his cell, prompting prison officials to put him on suicide watch.
The truth is that there are many strange things about this case, not least the fact that Feldstein and the reserve officer are the only people who have been prosecuted so aggressively for leaking documents.
Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has taken a special interest in this case, claiming that Feldstein jeopardized state security, a crime which carries a life sentence, if he is found guilty.
And even as public sentiment turns against her and Netanyahu's impassioned 9 minute speech on Saturday night, decrying her needlessly destroying lives of young people, and taking this case to ridiculous lengths, Baharav-Miara remains steadfast on her path to destroy Feldstein once and for all, for reasons absolutely no one can understand.
In a dramatic development today, Feldstein appeared in court for the first time since his arrest, alongside another detainee involved in anti-reserve duty protests.
The hearing, focused on the prosecution's request to extend their detention, revealed the harsh conditions of their confinement. According to family members, Feldstein has lost approximately 15 kilos while in custody, highlighting concerns about the conditions of his detention.
The court proceedings were marked by emotional scenes and controversy over the Shin Bet's handling of the case. Although the Shin Bet claimed they weren't involved in the hearing, it emerged that they were actively making decisions about the detainees' conditions, including denying family members physical contact even after judicial intervention.
In a particularly poignant moment, Feldstein broke down in tears after seeing his father cry, pleading, "Dad, don't cry."
The judge presiding over the case showed increasing frustration with the Shin Bet's restrictive approach, eventually reprimanding them for attempting to prevent a meeting between the families of Feldstein and his co-detainee. In a direct challenge to the security service's authority, the judge overruled their objections and permitted the families to meet.
The case has sparked a political firestorm in Israel. Opposition leaders present Netanyahu with a damning choice: either he knew about the leaks, making him complicit in a major security breach, or he was unaware of activities within his own office, suggesting dangerous incompetence.
In what could prove to be a crucial piece of evidence, Jonathan Urich, advisor to Prime Minister Netanyahu, allegedly messaged Feldstein after the story broke, stating, "Take your time, the boss is pleased,' which indicates that Netanyahu may well have known what was going on.
It has also come out that Feldstein may have been a little (or a lot) over eager in performing his job, but that he actually thought that what he was doing was legal, but again, even the answers bring more questions: Allegedly, he initially tired to pass the classified documents on to Israeli journalists, but they refused to publish them because of Israel's stringent censorship rules.
The Hostage Families Forum has been particularly vocal against Feldstein, characterizing these leaks as part of a deliberate campaign to undermine efforts to bring their loved ones home. They've described it as "one of the greatest public deceptions in the state's history," claiming it represents a fundamental breach of trust between the government and its citizens.
But it seems as though the majority of Israelis think that the Attorney General has gone more than a little crazy when it comes to Feldstein.
Outside the courthouse, demonstrators gathered calling for the release of both detainees, indicating that the case continues to draw public attention and support.
