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Netanyahu's office denies involvement in document leak to Bild – Israel News

The Prime Minister's Office issued a statement on Saturday evening refuting allegations that members of the office had leaked secret documents to Germany Picture Newspaper.

This comes amid reports that the office in recent months had hired a spokesman who had failed security clearance but was exposed to and handled highly classified materials despite not having the appropriate clearance.

Several suspects were arrested on Friday in connection with the leak of confidential PMO documents, the Rishon Lezion District Court said in a statement.

Reacting to the developments, the PMO said: “The published document did not reach the Prime Minister's Office from military intelligence, and the Prime Minister learned about it through the media.” “The named person never took part in security discussions, was not in contact with classified information and did not participate in confidential visits,” the office said.

This marked a departure from previous statements. While it initially claimed that no employee had been interviewed or arrested, the latest statement suggested that the individual did not participate in security meetings or have access to classified data.

PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the Knesset plenary this week. Although the Knesset passed a law banning UNRWA from Israel, a proper legal analysis shows that, aside from some short-term virtue signaling, the new law is unlikely to have any impact at all, the author argues. (Source: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Recent reports indicate that the individual gained access to sensitive materials without proper authorization. Although he does not deny that the document was received Picture Inside the office, Netanyahu's aides reject claims that the leak hampered efforts to release hostages, instead claiming that it aided those efforts.

Sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say more senior officials are likely to be questioned as the investigation deepens. Although the office denies this, sources said Walla that high-ranking officials had recruited the suspect even though they knew he did not have the necessary authorization.

The office further stated: “It is absurd to claim that the publication of a pro-Israel article in a German newspaper, including a document similar to those previously published with appropriate authority, harmed the hostage negotiations or Israeli security.”

“Hamas was the obstacle to an agreement,” PMO claims

“On the contrary, the document supported, rather than undermined, efforts to repatriate the hostages. The publication exposed “Hamas’ methods of exerting psychological pressure on both the government and the Israeli public while blaming Israel for failed hostage negotiations.”

While Netanyahu's office views this incident primarily as a leak, the investigation delves deeper into the handling of classified materials. A court statement released on Friday highlighted suspicions of “security damage resulting from the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information,” posing risks to sensitive data, sources and military targets related to the Gaza Strip.

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In September, Picture published a document reportedly written by Hamas detailing its negotiating strategy. The report shows that the document, found on leader Yahya Sinwar's computer and approved by him personally, plays a central role in the affair that is troubling Netanyahu's circle. Media reports suggest the scandal involves the deliberate, sometimes misleading, leak of secret documents to justify security-related positions against a hostage deal.

Jerusalem Post and Walla staff contributed to this report.



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