Netanyahu aide arrested, document leak could harm hostage negotiations

[Craig Nigrelli]

ISRAELI POLICE ARRESTED ONE OF PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU’S TOP AIDES – FOR ALLEGEDLY LEAKING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION TO FOREIGN MEDIA… THAT MAY HAVE HARMED EFFORTS TO FREE THE REMAINING HOSTAGES HELD BY HAMAS.

OPPOSITION LEADERS SAY THE INTELLIGENCE WAS FAKED AND IT WAS A WAY TO MAKE NETANYAHU LOOK BETTER AFTER NOT HAVING COME TO A CEASE-FIRE DEAL IN GAZA.

THE INVESTIGATION CENTERS ON ALLEGATIONS THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE TOLD FOREIGN MEDIA HAMAS WAS PLANNING ON SMUGGLING THE HOSTAGES OUT OF GAZA OVER THE EGYPTIAN BORDER – AND CREATING DIVISIONS IN ISRAELI SOCIETY TO PRESSURE NETANYAHU INTO A HOSTAGE RELEASE AND CEASEFIRE DEAL.

NETANYAHU DENIED HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CASE AND A SPOKESPERSON DENIED THERE HAD BEEN ANY LEAKS FROM THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE.

THE SPOKESPERSON ALSO SAID THE IDEA OF A LEAK IMPACTING HOSTAGE RELEASE NEGOTIATION WITH HAMAS WAS QUOTE “RIDICULOUS.”

HOSTAGE FAMILIES HAVE ACCUSED NETANYAHU OF REPEATEDLY IMPEDING AN AGREEMENT WITH HAMAS – SAYING NETANYAHU WORRIES AN END TO THE GAZA WAR WOULD FORCE THE PRIME MINISTER TO HOLD ELECTIONS.