Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware his aide planned to leak a classified military intelligence document to media, according to newly released Supreme Court transcripts that shed new light on a growing scandal within Israel's highest office.
During a December 5 hearing, Eli Feldstein's attorney Oded Savoray told Justice Alex Stein that his client informed Netanyahu about the document after a press conference following Hamas's murder of six hostages.
According to the transcript, first obtained by Ynet, Feldstein whispered to Netanyahu, "I have a document from my Military Intelligence sources with the same content but more updated, [top adviser Yonatan] Urich and I are working on getting it out."
The conversation allegedly took place five days before the classified Hamas negotiation document appeared in Germany's Bild newspaper, with prosecutors claiming Feldstein worked with an IDF intelligence NCO to influence public opinion about hostage negotiations.
The case centers on allegations that Feldstein worked with Ari Rosenfeld to unlawfully access and leak a highly classified document detailing Hamas's hostage negotiation tactics. Prosecutors claim the leak was aimed at shifting public opinion about the hostage negotiations in Netanyahu's favor during a particularly sensitive period.
The hearing transcript reveals prosecutors' additional concern that NCO Ari Rosenfeld attempted to share classified information with other sources, arguing "he threw away all his years of service" and warning he might continue leaking information in an attempt to "bypass the chain of command and transfer information directly to the Prime Minister."
The transcript emerged during arguments for Feldstein's release to house arrest, adding significant context to a scandal that has raised serious questions about the handling of military intelligence within the Prime Minister's Office during critical hostage negotiations.
Feldstein was released to house arrest weeks ago; unfortunately when it comes to Ari Rosenfeld, the court is dragging its feet, even as the head of the Shin Bet, Tomer Bar, clarified that Rosenfeld poses zero security risk. In another bizarre development, Rosenfeld was moved form solitary confinement to a cell with an actual spy, who is soon due to be released. So, if he poses such a security risk, why is he not in solitary confinement?
Well, obviously, he poses no risk. So why is still in jail?
The Times of Israel and Behadrei Haredim contributed to this article.
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