Netanyahu’s aide indicted in state security breach scandal

Eli Feldstein, an aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was indicted on November 21 by the state prosecution on serious charges related to a security document scandal that has shaken the Prime Minister’s Office in recent weeks.

Feldstein, who served as a spokesman and closely worked with Netanyahu over the past year, faces charges including the transfer of classified information with intent to harm state security — a crime that can carry a life sentence, Caliber.Az reports citing Israeli media.

He is also charged with illicit possession of classified information and obstruction of justice.

A second suspect, an IDF reservist noncommissioned officer whose identity has not been disclosed, was also indicted. He faces charges of transferring classified information, which carries a sentence of up to seven years in prison, along with theft by an authorized person and obstruction of justice.

The full details of the indictments, filed with the Central District Court, have not yet been made public.

Notably, Netanyahu himself is not a suspect in the case.

Earlier on November 21, hundreds of people gathered outside the Tel Aviv District Court to demonstrate in support of Feldstein and the NCO, criticizing the investigation and the ongoing detention of the two. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, who participated in the protest, called the case an example of "the complete politicization of the legal system."

The charges stem from an alleged leak of a highly classified document to the German tabloid Bild in September, which reportedly outlined Hamas’s priorities and tactics in hostage negotiations. While the document was initially thought to reflect high-level leadership positions in Hamas, it was later revealed to have been written by lower-ranking officials and did not necessarily represent the group's leadership stance.

The document was allegedly removed unlawfully from the IDF’s military intelligence database by the unidentified NCO, who gave it to Feldstein. Feldstein is accused of passing it on to Bild.

The State Attorney’s Office has indicated that it will seek to keep both suspects in custody throughout the duration of the legal proceedings.

Feldstein has already been detained for over three weeks since his arrest on October 27 and was placed on suicide watch earlier this week after a rubber strip was discovered in his cell, which could have been used for self-harm.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s spokesperson Yonatan Urich was questioned for the second time by the Lahav 433 major crimes unit on November 20. Urich is suspected of having instructed Feldstein to send the classified document to Srulik Einhorn, a former senior campaign adviser to Netanyahu’s Likud party, who then allegedly passed it on to Bild.

Einhorn, currently abroad, has reportedly refused to return to Israel to avoid questioning by authorities.

By Tamilla Hasanova