“Goodbye Lebanon”
CounterPunchOCT 20 2024
Israel Investigating Intelligence Leaks from Netanyahu's Office
Israel Investigating Intelligence Leaks from Netanyahu's Office
Above: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) speaks to Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (L) at the opening of the 25th Parliament session in Jerusalem on October 28, 2024. Image copyright: Debbie Hill/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Israeli authorities have so far arrested five suspects, including the spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over the alleged leak of top secret information that could have caused "significant damage" to negotiations to free Israeli hostages in Gaza.
The leaks were allegedly used in reports by the Bild and Jewish Chronicle which detailed Hamas' unwillingness to reach a deal in Gaza and a possible plan for slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to flee Gaza alongside some hostages, respectively.
The stories, published in September, prompted an Israeli military inquiry to find the source of the leaks. Netanyahu has distanced himself from the investigation, saying that the spokesperson arrested never had access to classified information.
The Spin
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Though leaks like this must be taken seriously, the alarmist rhetoric that they jeopardized hostage talks is unhelpful. Even American officials have confirmed that Hamas has consistently been the primary obstacle to reaching a deal. Additionally, those suspected of leaking the information were never involved in internal security discussions.
Regardless of political scandals in Israel, the country's genocide in Gaza has continued unabated. "Cease-fire" talks have acted as a ruse cooked up by the Americans to provide Israel with diplomatic cover to continue Israel's genocide as well as its destruction of Lebanon. Indeed, it's quite clear that Israel's political and military leadership have decided that a drawn-out regional war is in Israel's best interest.