Israeli officials excluded from sensitive info due to leaks: Report
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In a recent report by Israel Hayom, attention is drawn to the operational challenges facing the political-security cabinet in "Israel".
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Picture taken on April 14, 2024, shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) during a War Cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv. (AFP)
Certain Israeli ministers within the Political-Security Cabinet are being denied access to crucial and sensitive information due to what is being termed the "leakage disaster", Israel Hayom reported.
The ongoing concern has been repeatedly highlighted within the entity, particularly during the ongoing war on Gaza, the daily newspaper stressed.
Israel Hayom's military analyst, Yoav Limor, reported that several ministers are being deliberately excluded from receiving vital intelligence, citing authoritative sources.
The exclusion is attributed to past instances where leaked information has reportedly compromised Israeli military operations and placed soldiers at risk, Limor added.
Further insights into this matter were provided by an Israeli security source, who underscored the chaos engendered by such breaches. The source emphasized that these excluded ministers not only jeopardize "national security" but also impede the Cabinet's ability to function effectively during wartime, as per the report.
The repercussions of this selective information sharing, as outlined in the report, are profound. With ministers in the Political-Security Cabinet deliberately excluded due to concerns over leaks, there is a significant risk of decision-making taking place without access to vital intelligence, it added.
Cabinet betrays its role... situation worse than 2006 July War
Israel Hayom also delved into the functions of the Political-Security Cabinet in "Israel", highlighting the cabinet's crucial responsibility of shaping policies related to "national security", especially in the domains of security and foreign relations.
The Political-Security Cabinet is described as a small and covert body, intended to facilitate in-depth discussions and decision-making on sensitive matters. Comprising six permanent ministers, comprising the Prime Minister, Minister of Security, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Internal Security, the cabinet can accommodate additional ministers as long as they do not exceed half the number of government ministers, as per the newspaper.
Historically, Israeli prime ministers have used the cabinet to broaden the consultation and responsibility scope by presenting sensitive decisions, it further detailed.
Additionally, there have been instances of informal forums such as the "Small Kitchen", "Septet", and "Octet" where sensitive consultations took place. Decisions arising from these forums required approval from the cabinet or government to be official.
Furthermore, there are cases where the cabinet delegates decision-making to smaller bodies to streamline processes or safeguard the secrecy of specific operations, as per the newspaper.
The newspaper highlighted historical precedents, such as former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former ministers Ehud Barak and Tzipi Livni's authorization to make decisions regarding sensitive military operations. This authorization process involved extensive discussions within the cabinet, ensuring all members were briefed comprehensively and involved in the decision-making process.
However, the current situation presents a stark contrast, with security agencies opting to withhold sensitive information during cabinet meetings due to concerns over potential leaks, as per the newspaper.
One particularly notable example cited by Israel Hayom is the extensive leakage of details surrounding a preemptive attack against Lebanon in October of the previous year.
The implications of this "leakage disaster" are significant, as highlighted by the sentiments expressed by a quoted source, who contends that the cabinet's failure to safeguard sensitive information undermines its role and poses grave risks to national security, it stressed.
The newspaper quoted one source as saying, "The Cabinet betrays its role. The Winograd Committee decided that the Cabinet did not perform its role in the Second Lebanon War (the July 2006 war). The situation today is increasingly precarious and fraught with danger."
Netanyahu scolds lie detector tests for Israeli ministers
Regarding lie detector tests for Israeli ministers, Israel Hayom revealed that Netanyahu has refused or watered down proposals for such tests, citing various reasons.
According to the publication, the responsibility for introducing discussion topics in the cabinet lies with the prime minister, facilitated through his military secretary and the "National Security Council."
Despite acknowledging the issue of leaks within the government, Netanyahu's pledges to address the problem have yet to materialize into concrete actions, the newspaper confirmed.
Moreover, Israel Hayom highlighted concerns raised by security and military leaders about the implications of legislative action on "national security" and deterrence. As investigations into the failures leading to the October 7 attack and wartime management proceed, the withholding of information from ministers during cabinet discussions is poised to be a key focal point, the newspaper affirmed.
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