Leaking Cabinet Meeting Details Could Lead to Criminal Prosecution, Netanyahu Pushes for Action

Due to a series of leaks from cabinet meetings, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is advocating for criminal prosecutions against those who publish such leaks, as reported by Israeli media.

Netanyahu insists that all elements of cabinet meetings remain private and proposes forbidding the publication of any meeting details, even those unrelated to security matters.

Under the new proposed rules, any unauthorized release of cabinet meeting information could result in criminal charges for both the leaker and the journalist responsible for publishing the details. The goal is to prevent sensitive information from reaching the public domain.

However, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is expected to oppose this move, making the prosecution of leakers more challenging.

The Knesset Speaker’s Office confirmed that on January 8, 2024, a request was made to the Attorney General to investigate the leaking of sensitive information from the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee. The leaks were allegedly carried out by a member of the Knesset.

Knesset Investigation Reveals Alarming Findings

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana initiated an investigation to determine the source of the leaks. An officer was appointed to conduct the investigation and collected witness testimonies and accessed security footage from the committee’s compound.

The investigation uncovered that only one Knesset member had accessed the information from the committee in the past six months. Furthermore, this member accessed the information twice, close to the time it was leaked to the media.

Upon further inspection, it was discovered that the MK had marked the same parts in the meeting notes that were eventually published. The committee director confirmed that this marked copy was the only existing version of the meeting, and the MK had received it without any markings.

Commenting on the investigation, the officer stated, “It must be remembered that on the other side sits a foreign intelligence agent gathering every detail of information in order to complete its intelligence puzzle.”

Based on the evidence, Ohana urged the Attorney General to initiate a criminal investigation and proceed with prosecution if warranted. In a letter to Baharav-Miara, Ohana wrote, “Refraining from taking all legal measures will encourage and incentivize more leaks from more meetings, something that will not only harm the security of the state but also the Knesset’s ability to maintain proper supervision of the government and its institutions, which will not, to put it mildly, share confidential information in the future.”

Gilad Kariv identified as the Leak

Israeli media has identified the leaker as Labor MK Gilad Kariv.

In response to the investigation, Kariv stated, “Any investigation in connection with the leakage of information from the war cabinet, an expanded cabinet, government discussions, and Knesset committees is welcome and appropriate.”

Kariv also expressed concerns about selective enforcement and political motivations behind the investigation, mentioning that it could potentially infringe upon democratic principles.

“I intend to contact the Attorney General with a request to start an immediate investigation of the leaks from the War Cabinet about attack plans in Lebanon and Gaza that endangered IDF soldiers, at the same time as the investigation concerning the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee,” Kariv added. “If necessary, a petition will be submitted to the High Court of Justice to order the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) to investigate the leaks that endanger the soldiers’ lives.”

The Union of Journalists in Israel strongly criticized the proposed plan, arguing that “allowing the prosecution of journalists for legitimate press publications is a bright warning sign on the way to a serious attack on the freedom of the press.”

The Union emphasized that this plan is anti-democratic and would severely undermine press freedoms, with no equal precedent in democratic countries. They further suggested that the Prime Minister should focus on holding the accomplices accountable rather than targeting journalists who are simply performing their duties.