Israel's defense establishment felt that then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi did not take action about leaks to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, according to a Monday evening report by KAN.
Halevi felt that he was a "weakened Chief of Staff who feared confronting senior commanders with political connections," even though Halevi was aware of the leaks "in real time," KAN added.
Senior IDF officials stated that Smotrich had several high-ranking officers providing him with information through unauthorized channels throughout the Israel-Hamas war.
The report stated that Halevi confronted Smotrich during a cabinet meeting, telling Smotrich that he knew about the leaks that Smotrich had been receiving.
According to cabinet sources, Smotrich admitted to the truth of these claims during the meeting.
One of the individuals who leaked information to Smotrich was allegedly Brig.-Gen (res) Erez Wiener, KAN reported.
Smotrich denies report's claims
Smotrich denied the claims from the report, stating three major issues that he was concerned about.
Firstly, he stated that accusing IDF soldiers and commanders of being leaks or moles is a "grave and disgraceful statement against those who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for the country."
Secondly, he claimed that as finance minister, he holds the highest security clearance and has access to the state's most sensitive secrets, and that there is no suspicion [of leaks] within the cabinet. "If there is suspicion, it should be directed at certain senior IDF officials who have concealed information from the cabinet for years and misled its members. This deception was one of the factors leading to October 7, and it is deeply troubling," Smotrich added.
The third and, according to Smotrich, largest issue with the claims is that it is impossible for the finance minister to receive information before the prime minister. This assertion, he adds, "should set off alarm bells everywhere. It is a stark reminder that some have failed to learn the lessons of the dysfunction that led to October 7."
"There are those in the security establishment who still do not understand the role of the elected government and its authority over the professional ranks," Smotrich alleged.
Smotrich also went on to attack senior IDF personnel, including Halevi, by "personally attesting that on many occasions, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and senior IDF officers did not provide the cabinet with the full truth. Dozens of times, I had to confront them with information I had gathered from the field. This is unacceptable."
"Anyone who knows me knows that I do not leak or brief on cabinet discussions or any other classified meetings. I never use the information I receive for anything other than my duty in the cabinet," Smotrich claimed.
"I am proud that I have access to information and that I know a great deal—because as a cabinet member, it is my duty to be informed. Without knowledge, there is no way to make the right decisions," he added.