'Witch hunt': Netanyahu releases video criticizing investigation into PMO, Eli Feldstein

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a nine-minute video to his X/Twitter account on Saturday evening, criticizing the allegations against the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the document leak case, while defending his aide Eli Feldstein.

“Unfortunately, this current witch hunt is taking a heavy toll – not just on my office staff but on young individuals whose families are being destroyed,” he said.

Feldstein is accused of leaking classified documents that harmed the war effort and reduced the chances of a successful hostage deal.

It remains unclear whether he was acting on his own accord or by Netanyahu’s orders.

“Yesterday, an indictment was filed against Feldstein and against an IDF non-commissioned officer regarding the leak of that same Hamas document,” Netanyahu stated. “The goal is clear: to harm me and to harm you – the citizens of Israel who support me.”

Netanyahu called Feldstein a “passionate Zionist and patriot” and said that “there is no chance in the world that he would intentionally do anything to harm state security.”

Netanyahu sharply criticized previous leaks that, according to him, were not investigated. “It doesn’t take a genius to understand why there was no investigation into these leaks. The public isn’t foolish. And now, we have a single investigation into one leak regarding a document that exposes Hamas's strategy to divide Israeli society and pressure me and the government to surrender to Hamas's will."

האמת תנצח. הצהרה מיוחדת ממני אליכם >> pic.twitter.com/WdlKEDC6jW

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 23, 2024

“Was this document supposed to be on my desk? Why didn’t it reach me? This isn’t the first time critical information hasn’t been delivered to me. But here, and only here, an investigation has been launched – not just an investigation, but accusations of document forgery, blackmail, and threats in the Prime Minister’s Office – things that never happened,” the PM said.

"You know this witch hunt. This campaign isn’t just aimed at me but also at you, the public that elected me and [chose] the path I lead to confront our enemies."

Opposition leader and chairman of Yesh Atid criticized Netanyahu's post, writing in a post X/Twitter on Saturday night, "Benjamin Netanyahu presents: nine minutes and 15 seconds of lack of leadership and responsibility."

בנימין נתניהו מציג: תשע דקות ו-15 שניות של חוסר מנהיגות וחוסר אחריות. הוא לא ידע, הוא לא שמע, הוא לא קשור . הוא לא ידע על אסון מירון, לא על אסון שבעה באוקטובר, לא על מה שקורה בתוך הלשכה שלו. ראש ממשלה שלא יודע כלום ולא לוקח אחריות על שום דבר. בושה pic.twitter.com/cCxNDfxMAT

— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) November 23, 2024

"He didn’t know, he didn’t hear, he’s not involved. He didn’t know about the Meron disaster, not about the October 7 disaster, not about what was happening within his own office. A prime minister who knows nothing and takes responsibility for nothing. A disgrace."