'I overstepped': Hagari apologizes for Feldstein bill criticism during confidential meeting

IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari attended a confidential meeting at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday, where he apologized for his previous expression of criticism toward the government's "Feldstein bill" at the beginning of the month.

Haragri's public criticism of the bill at the time sparked much controversy.  The "Feldstein bill," if passed, would cause soldiers who make unauthorized transfers of secret documents to the prime minister's office or defense minister's office to be immune from criminal responsibility.  

At the time of Hagari's initial comments, the preliminary vote for the bill was passed in Knesset. Hagari spoke publically at a press conference and said that the law was "very dangerous to the IDF" when asked about it.

During the confidential meeting that took place on Tuesday, Hagari said that his statements "overstepped" his authority and that he was rightfully reprimanded for them. 

"I apologize for what I said regarding the bill. You are the sovereign authority. I responded to a journalist's question. I should not have responded. The Chief of Staff reprimanded me, and rightly so," Hagari said during the meeting.

He also affirmed his love for Israel, saying, "I love the country and the IDF. First and foremost, I want to address my stance on the bill, which came up during a question I was asked at the end of my statement. I made a mistake. I overstepped my authority, and I understood that—I have taken responsibility," he continued.

Haragi added in the meeting that "the IDF must and should convey its position on legislation related to the military, such as the draft law, through legitimate channels like this forum."

Hagari's initial comments

Hagari had initially said that the bill was "dangerous because it would create a situation where any low-ranking official in the IDF could, at their discretion, steal and leak documents or intelligence information."

"This is a serious matter that could endanger lives and the safety of soldiers, and it is very dangerous to the IDF and to the security of the state," he added.

Shortly after the press conference, Hagari apologized for his statements. He said, "I expressed myself in a manner that exceeded my authority as IDF spokesman. The State of Israel is a democratic state, and the IDF is subordinate to the political echelon."

Defense Minister Israel Katz said at the time that Hagari's statements were "a serious and extraordinary phenomenon, completely outside of its authority and what is permitted and expected from someone in uniform in a democratic regime."

"I intend to take disciplinary action against him as soon as possible to draw the necessary conclusions," Katz added. 

Maya Gur Arieh contributed to this report.