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Insights into the leaked PMO documents scandal – Israel News

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be “deeply concerned” about the suspect at the center of the “secret documents affair,” a source familiar with the defendant told Ynet on Saturday, telling that his adviser's knowledge “could come back to haunt him.” to pursue him.”

The source, who worked closely with the suspect, described the adviser's closeness to Netanyahu and explained how he often briefed reporters on behalf of the Prime Minister's Office, despite reportedly not having a formal security clearance. According to the source, “They are distancing themselves from him now, but that will definitely backfire.”

The ongoing scandal has rocked Netanyahu's office and he is accused of security mismanagement and deliberate manipulation of sensitive information.

Walla reported that this adviser, who had previously been denied access to secure areas by the Shin Bet (Israeli Secret Service), had access to highly sensitive conversations, even accompanied Netanyahu to secret military facilities and traveled in the prime minister's convoy.

The suspect's duties allegedly included conducting briefings for the press on sensitive topics. Ynet reported that he even undertook an international mission to Germany on Netanyahu's behalf, possibly to disseminate Hamas-related documents.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU is acutely aware of history and attuned to his place in it. (Source: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Documents suggested complex plans

Reports from KAN News indicate that the classified information was passed specifically to influence Israel's public perception of the hostage negotiations with Hamas. According to these claims, a leaked document suggested a complex Hamas plan to transfer hostages to Iran via Egypt. This narrative, which was supposed to justify delays in negotiations, was later debunked and some media outlets retracted their stories.

The Prime Minister's Office responded that the leaked document “never reached the Prime Minister's Office from military intelligence and the Prime Minister only learned about it from the media.”

According to the statement, the person “was never involved in security negotiations, was not exposed to or received classified information, and did not participate in confidential visits.”

The office rejected claims that publication of the document in a German newspaper had harmed Israel's security or hostage release negotiations. “It is absurd,” the statement said, “to claim that the publication of a pro-Israel article – which shared a previously approved and authorized document – ​​caused harm to the negotiations or Israel’s security.”

On the contrary, the office claimed, the document “contributed to and certainly did not hinder efforts to repatriate the hostages.”

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The office further stated that the document and article exposed Hamas's psychological tactic of blaming Israel for delays in the hostage negotiations, a strategy aimed at exerting internal and external pressure on the Israeli government and the public.

“This is happening because everyone knows – as has been repeatedly confirmed by senior American officials – that Hamas is the one obstructing the agreement,” the office added.

Since the start of the war, the office said, there has been “a flood of deliberate and criminal revelations from secret Cabinet meetings, closed security talks and confidential meetings related to the release of hostages.”

These included leaks of a fake video targeting Israeli soldiers in Yemen and a leak from MK Gilad Kariv (Labour) from the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

The statement ended by asking why, of all the recent leaks, “this particular document – ​​whose contents were known to all and helped Israel – is being subjected to such an aggressive and targeted investigation.”

Meanwhile, opposition leaders did not hold back in their criticism. National Unity leader Benny Gantz told Kan News: “The Prime Minister must take full responsibility for what happens in his office.” The public deserves transparency and accountability at the highest levels, especially on such critical issues as national security .”

Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), the opposition leader, echoed these views, warning that “attempting to distance oneself from this matter constitutes a breach of public trust and undermines Israel's security.” He further stressed that the affair “the “The foundations of trust that the Israeli people have in their leadership have been shaken, especially at such a critical time.”

Members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee have requested an urgent closed-door meeting to examine the security vulnerabilities and the possible impact on national security.

According to Walla, committee members sent a formal letter to Chairman Yuli Edelstein (Likud) emphasizing the need for a comprehensive review and preventive measures to avoid future incidents.



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