Court says suspects arrested in relation to PMO documents leak

Several suspects were arrested on Friday in relation to a leak of classified documents from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Rishon Lezion Magistrate Court announced in a statement.

The announced arrests were the result of a joint investigation by the Shin Bet, the police, and the IDF, on suspicions of risking sensitive information and harming the achievement of the war goals in Gaza, Judge Menachem Mizrahi noted in the statement.

The information was reportedly leaked to German news site Bild, according to Der Spiegel. The leak led to a September article revealing Yahya Sinwar's plan for the hostages in Hamas captivity.

The Prime Minister's Office shortly after responded that nobody who was arrested was officially employed by the office. "Contrary to the publications, no one from the office was investigated or arrested," the office said.

A report from Ynet stated that one of the arrested was a spokesman who worked with the Prime Minister's Office. According to that report, he was not defined as an official employee of the PMO. According to suspicions, he did not pass a security clearance, yet he accompanied Netanyahu to discussions in the HaKirya military base and classified military units, and was also exposed to the transcripts of the political-security cabinet and sensitive security discussions.

Political reactions

The National Unity Party responded to the PMO's initial statement claiming there were no leaks of classified documents during the war, with party leader Benny Gantz saying their "Level of credibility: '3,000 ultra-Orthodox were recruited this year.'"

Gantz responded to the incident on X, saying, "Without going into the details of the case under investigation concerning the activities of the Prime Minister's Office, it is important to emphasize one thing - the Prime Minister is the one responsible for what happens in his office. For better or for worse."

מבלי להיכנס לפרטי הפרשה הנחקרת הנוגעת לפעילות לשכת ראש הממשלה, חשוב להדגיש דבר אחד - ראש הממשלה הוא הנושא באחריות לנעשה בלשכתו. בטוב וברע.

— בני גנץ - Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) November 1, 2024

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid also responded to the incident on X, also placing the blame for the leak fully on the prime minister.

הפרשה בלשכת ראש הממשלה עוסקת בלב ליבו של הקשר ההדוק בין מערכת הבטחון לבין ראש הממשלה וסביבתו. ראש הממשלה מנסה כבר עכשיו כהרגלו להרחיק את עצמו מהפרשה ולהטיל אחריות על אחרים, אבל העובדות הפוכות: הוא אחראי באופן אישי על כל נייר, מילה, או מידע היוצא מלשכתו. >>

— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) November 1, 2024

"The prime minister is already trying, as usual, to distance himself from the matter and place responsibility on others, but the facts state the opposite: he is personally responsible for every paper, word, and information coming from his office."

Investigations for additional bureaus are being examined, Israel's Channel 12 reported. The prosecutor's office is investigating, among other things, the leaking of intelligence documents about Sinwar to foreign journalists. Two of Netanyahu's aides consulted with a lawyer at the Prime Minister's Attorney's Office.