Ex-Netanyahu Aide Claims Shared Secret IDF Data With PM

Former Netanyahu Aide Alleges Direct Communication of Classified Information with Prime Minister

A former spokesperson for former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed that he shared classified military information directly with the prime minister and his military secretary. The individual, Eli Feldstein, is currently facing charges related to the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data. According to Feldstein, he provided this information to Netanyahu and his military secretary, Roman Gofman, following a meeting in August.

The information in question pertains to a classified document regarding Hamas, which Feldstein is accused of leaking to the German newspaper Bild. Netanyahu has previously denied having any knowledge of the document, stating in November that he was unaware of its existence. However, Feldstein claims that he shared details about the document with the prime minister during their meeting.

In addition to the Hamas-related information, Feldstein also conveyed classified intelligence about Hezbollah’s plans to attack Israeli soldiers. He told investigators that Netanyahu instructed him to share this information with Gofman. Feldstein, who did not have a security clearance at the time, stated that he received the information from an army "source" named Ari Rosenfeld, who has also been charged in the case.

Feldstein further claimed that he informed Netanyahu’s aide, Yonatan Urich, on the same day he received the information from Rosenfeld. He alleged that Urich had prior knowledge of his planned meeting with Rosenfeld. Urich reportedly arranged for Feldstein to meet with Netanyahu later that day. During the meeting, Feldstein briefed the prime minister on both the Hamas document and the Hezbollah-related intelligence. This occurred before Israel's invasion of Lebanon in September.

Netanyahu showed particular interest in the information regarding Hezbollah, according to Feldstein. He then directed Feldstein to brief Gofman on the matter, which he did on the same day. Despite lacking a security clearance, Feldstein was allowed into the command room of the General Staff's Operations Directorate as part of Netanyahu's entourage.

Interestingly, police never questioned Gofman about the alleged exchange, nor did they ask other individuals involved in the case whether Feldstein met with Gofman, despite his claims. A former senior official commented that Feldstein should never have spoken with Gofman, especially about such sensitive issues.

Feldstein only shared these details with police in November, after being granted access to an attorney two and a half weeks after his arrest. He claimed that he only came forward after realizing that Netanyahu and his staff were distancing themselves from him. Four days later, he was indicted.

A source familiar with the investigation mentioned that Feldstein repeated his claims during a subsequent interrogation in April, as part of the Qatargate case. Initially, prosecutors dismissed his statements as fabricated, as he had not mentioned them during his initial interrogations. However, the expected indictment against Urich appears to be partially based on Feldstein’s claims, suggesting that prosecutors now view his testimony more seriously.

Gofman has denied Feldstein’s account, calling it “baseless” and asserting that he never received any intelligence information or documents from him. The Prime Minister’s Office has not responded to the allegations, and the prosecution has declined to comment on the matter.