theguardian.com
Netanyahu's Leak Scandal
A scandal involving the alleged leak of classified Israeli military information is rocking the country, with five arrests made and accusations of political manipulation.
English
United Kingdom
PoliticsMiddle EastIsraelMilitaryUkInvestigationScandalLeaks
Israeli ArmyHamasJewish ChronicleBildIsraeli Police
Benjamin NetanyahuYahya SinwarEliezer Feldstein
- What happens next?
- The scandal is ongoing, with a partial gag order in place. A separate criminal investigation by the Israeli police's anti-corruption unit is underway, focusing on officials in the Prime Minister's office potentially altering cabinet meeting notes and transcripts. Netanyahu's office denies these claims as well.
- Then what happened?
- Following the publication of the articles, the Israeli army launched an investigation, leading to the retraction of the Jewish Chronicle's report and five arrests in a joint investigation by the police and security services. The investigation revealed evidence suggesting the leak may have been systemic and deliberately manipulated to favor the Prime Minister's stance.
- What does Netanyahu say?
- Netanyahu denies involvement, calling for a lifting of the gag order and accusing the judiciary of bias. He claims that other leaks about negotiations did not trigger investigations. His office also denies wrongdoing by his staff, claiming the central suspect never had access to classified information or participated in security discussions.
- How did all of this begin?
- The scandal began with the publication of articles in the Jewish Chronicle and Bild, which claimed Hamas planned to prolong talks and smuggle hostages. These articles, originating from alleged leaks of classified information, raised concerns about their impact on ongoing negotiations and intelligence gathering.
- Why is the scandal coming to a head now?
- The scandal came to a head after a court announced the arrests, revealing a suspected breach of national security due to the unlawful provision of classified information. This information, leaked to individuals in the Prime Minister's office, was believed to have harmed Israel's war aims, jeopardizing the release of hostages and potentially the lives of soldiers.