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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aide, Eli Feldstein, was indicted by Israeli state prosecution on Thursday, facing serious charges related to the leak of classified state documents.
Feldstein, a former spokesman for Netanyahu and a central figure in the scandal that has rocked the Prime Minister’s Office, has been charged with harming state security by transferring sensitive information with the intent to cause harm, a crime punishable by life imprisonment.
He also faces charges of illicit possession of classified materials and obstruction of justice. A second suspect in the case, an unnamed Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reservist non-commissioned officer (NCO), was also indicted.
The NCO is accused of transferring classified information, theft by an authorized person, and obstruction of justice. The full details of the indictments have yet to be disclosed by the court.
The case has become a focal point of political controversy, with allegations surrounding the leak of a highly classified document to the German tabloid Bild in September.
The document, which purportedly contained details about Hamas’s priorities in hostage negotiations, was reportedly stolen from the IDF’s military intelligence database by the NCO and later passed to Feldstein, who then allegedly ensured it was forwarded to Bild.
Though the document was initially believed to reveal Hamas’s strategic position in hostage talks, it later emerged that the document had been authored by lower-level Hamas officials and did not necessarily reflect the leadership’s stance.
The investigation has raised serious concerns within Israel regarding the potential national security damage caused by the leak.
The document’s contents were deemed sensitive, and investigators believe its publication could have severely compromised the ongoing efforts to free Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) concluded that the leak hindered the war aim of securing the release of these hostages, a mission that has remained central to the government’s strategy since the outbreak of hostilities following the October 7 massacre by Hamas.
Feldstein’s motivation for allegedly leaking the document appears to have been tied to mounting public pressure on Netanyahu following the murders of six high-profile Israeli hostages in Gaza in late August.
These killings led to widespread national protests against Netanyahu, with critics accusing the Prime Minister of obstructing a potential hostage release deal.
Investigators suggest that Feldstein’s actions were part of an effort to sway public opinion, potentially shifting blame onto Hamas leader Yehya Sinwar for the impasse in hostage release negotiations.
Feldstein reportedly sought to frame the protests demanding the hostages’ release as inadvertently supporting Hamas’s goals.
As the legal proceedings unfolded on Thursday, the Tel Aviv District Court saw hundreds of people gathering outside in protest.
Coalition ministers, Knesset members (MKs), and various Netanyahu supporters voiced their outrage over the investigation and the ongoing detention of Feldstein and the NCO.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, speaking at the demonstration, accused the Israeli legal system of being politicized, claiming the case was part of a broader effort to undermine the Netanyahu administration.
Feldstein, who was arrested on October 27 and has been held in custody for over three weeks, has reportedly been placed on suicide watch after authorities found a rubber strip in his cell that could have been used for self-harm.
His detention, along with the indictment, has sparked debates about the political implications of the case.
Netanyahu himself has not been implicated in the scandal, though the investigation continues to raise questions about the broader security culture within the Prime Minister’s Office and the Israeli government.
In a related development, Yonatan Urich, another spokesperson for Netanyahu, was questioned for the second time by the Lahav 433 major crimes unit earlier this week.
Urich is suspected of having directed Feldstein to send the classified document to Srulik Einhorn, a former senior advisor to Netanyahu’s Likud party.
Einhorn, who is currently abroad, has reportedly refrained from returning to Israel, likely to avoid questioning by authorities.
The court’s investigation into the leak highlighted the significant security concerns raised by the unauthorized release of such sensitive materials.
Investigators argue that the publication of the document in Bild was a deliberate act that could have jeopardized Israeli security efforts, particularly concerning the ongoing hostage negotiations with Hamas.
As the case progresses, the potential consequences for the accused individuals and the wider political landscape in Israel remain uncertain.
Supporters of the accused individuals, including family members, have continued to rally behind them, painting a different picture of the case.
Yehoshua Feldstein, Eli’s father, defended his son outside the court, calling him “a righteous man” and a “true hero of Israel.”
Similarly, Avital, the wife of the NCO, expressed her belief in her husband’s commitment to the country, stating that his entire life had been devoted to serving Israel and its security needs.
The indictment comes at a time of heightened political tension in Israel, with Netanyahu and his administration facing multiple challenges both on the domestic front and in the context of Israel’s ongoing military conflict with Hamas.
The leak of sensitive documents has not only raised questions about the security of Israel’s intelligence operations but has also ignited a broader debate about the accountability of those in power, the role of the legal system, and the intersection of politics with national security.
The State Attorney’s Office has made it clear that it intends to keep both Feldstein and the NCO in custody for the duration of legal proceedings.
The Central District Court, which will oversee the case, has not yet released the full indictment, but the ongoing legal battle is likely to be a major political issue in the coming months.
As public protests continue and the legal case unfolds, the scandal is expected to cast a long shadow over Netanyahu’s government and the future of Israeli politics.
While Netanyahu’s government continues to face scrutiny over this affair, the broader implications for Israel’s national security and political stability will likely remain a subject of intense public and media interest.
As the trial proceeds, both the legal and political ramifications of this scandal are bound to reverberate throughout the country’s power structures, potentially reshaping Israel’s political landscape in the months to come.