Leaked exchange from closed Israeli meeting highlights stark division

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
13 Nov 2023 22:45
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The Israeli Chief of Staff has directed accusations against other Israeli officials, saying that they are leaking information that puts the Israeli forces in a bad light.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference with Security Minister Yoav Gallant and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz in the Kirya military base in "Tel Aviv", occupied Palestine, Oct. 28, 2023 (AP)

Reports from Israeli media outlets indicate troubled relations between the Israeli military command and the Israeli political command.

According to Israeli Channel 12 anchor, Yaron Avraham, the Israeli chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, fell out with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other officials during a closed meeting held between Israeli officials.

Avraham says that Halevi accused other participants of leaking information from previous meetings, which aimed to put the Israeli military command in a bad light in front of the Israeli public.

"This evening we are talking about a difficult exchange between the Prime Minister, the ministers, and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, in one of the closed consultation discussions that took place in recent days, when in this discussion the Chief of Staff claims that details are being leaked that present the IDF in a negative light," Avraham posted on his personal X account.

The leaked conversation

According to the Channel 12 anchor, the Prime Minister kicked off the meeting by saying "This is a time of war and I ask that no details be leaked from here."

To which Aryeh Deri the leader of the Shas political party, which is part of the Israeli ruling coalition, said, "I don't quite understand, you're not talking in the right forum. Leaks don't come from here"

The Israeli Chief of Staff, Halevi, then said, "Indeed, information is coming out of here," as he later explained to Deri that the information "Usually have a thing in common which is slander against the IDF," he said in reference to the Israeli occupation forces.

Avraham also highlighted the fact that Israeli authorities have not been able to organize a press conference that features the Israeli Prime Minister, the head of the Shin Bet, and the Israeli Chief of Staff. Failure to do so has brought to light stark divisions between the Israeli military and intelligence command on one side and the Israeli political command on the other.

The Israeli journalist says that the unprecedented exchange indicates that Halevi is "frustrated" with the conduct of Israeli politicians.

Netanyahu wants to escape responsibility

Former Israeli intelligence chief Lieutenant General Amos Malka slammed the conduct of the Israeli occupation's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, during a radio interview, stating, "His judgment in the conduct of the war at the moment is flawed and tends towards a blame game and a plan to detach himself from responsibility." In fact, Netanyahu has not yet accepted any direct responsibility for the Israeli military and intelligence failure that occurred on October 7.

Malka added that Netanyahu is preoccupied with securing his position rather than focusing on managing the war on Gaza.

"If he has the time on the second and third day of the war to deal with whether the commission of inquiry that will be established will be governmental or state, and if he engages in delusional and dangerous tweeting for three hours during the IDF's operation to rescue of Pvt. Ori Megidish - I see that he is not focused on conducting the fighting. He is focused on survival," he said.

The leak from the closed meeting on Sunday sheds light on the deep-rooted divisions within the Israeli occupation's political scene, which are expected to fully fledge when the aggression on the Gaza Strip comes to an end.