IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari press briefing 4.12.2024. (Photo: screenshot from IDF)
IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari apologized for ‘exceeding his authority’ after sharply criticizing the so-called “Feldstein Law” during a press conference on Wednesday evening.
The bill was approved in a preliminary reading by the Knesset earlier in the day. Now the bill goes to a Knesset committee for discussion then it will need to pass three more readings. If passed into law it would prevent prosecution of soldiers or other defense officials for the sharing of classified documents with the prime minister outside of the proper authorized channels.
Hagari initially stated that the law was “dangerous to the IDF.”
The bill was advanced after former spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Eli Feldstein and another IDF security officer were detained following the sharing of classified documents with a foreign media outlet in an apparent attempt to influence public opinion in favor of Netanyahu’s position in the hostage negotiations.
When asked by a Channel 12 journalist about the law, Hagari said the law risks national security and that “it will lead to a situation where every soldier could steal documents. It is dangerous to the security of the state.”
“The IDF does not hide information from the political leadership, it operates under it for Israel’s security,” Hagari continued, “The document in question was accessible to authorized personnel in the Prime Minister’s office. It was stolen and transferred to a newspaper in Germany via a bypass route, circumventing [military] censorship.”
Hagari’s remarks were in reference to Feldstein’s attempt to have the document published in the Israeli press. However, his efforts were thwarted when the military censor prohibited its release and the document was subsequently leaked to the German magazine Bild.
Hagari argued that “this law is extremely dangerous because it will create a situation where any junior official in the IDF could, on their own, steal intelligence information.”
In response, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi reprimanded Hagari for his remarks, while Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened disciplinary action.
The IDF issued the following statement: “Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi reprimanded the IDF spokesperson for his response to a question about the law on transferring classified information to the Prime Minister and ministers during a press briefing, in which he exceeded his authority. The IDF does not criticize the legislature but conveys its position to the political leadership through the appropriate mechanisms for that purpose.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “The IDF spokesperson’s criticism of the political leadership and the legislative process in the Knesset is a very serious and unusual phenomenon, completely outside his authority and what is expected from someone in uniform in a democratic system. I intend to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him as soon as possible to draw the necessary conclusions.”
Hagari also drew strong criticism from other coalition members.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attempted to link Hagari’s criticism to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s initiation of investigations of police officials who carried out orders by Ben Gvir to distribute weapons in contradiction to existing regulations.
“The spirit of the attorney general is seeping into the IDF spokesperson,” Ben Gvir said. “When Hagari sees that the attorney general disregards the government, he also disregards the defense minister. Full deep state – except this time, it’s already from the get-go.”
Interior Minister Moshe Arbel said that Hagari’s statement was “a very serious crossing of a red line. No one in uniform has any right to publicly express a political opinion on political issues, whatever their position may be, especially when it contradicts the position of the relevant minister.”
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said the problem was how Hagari conveyed his criticism of the law.
“In a democratic country, the military does not criticize the legislative process in parliament at a press conference,” Ohana said. “The IDF can express its position in the Knesset committee that prepares the law, as it has done countless times in the past, and as all state bodies that are monitored by the Knesset or are affected by legislation do.”
Following these reactions, Hagari apologized on the IDF Spokesperson’s Office 𝕏 account.
“In my statement tonight in response to a question, I spoke in a way that exceeded my authority as the IDF spokesperson, and for this, I was reprimanded by the Chief of Staff. Israel is a democratic country, and the IDF is subordinate to the political leadership. In the hundreds of statements and questions I have answered since October 7, I have maintained professionalism. The IDF conveys its position on legislative matters to the relevant authorities through the appropriate channels, not in any other way.”
However, opposition member Avigdor Liberman agreed with Hagari and said he should not have apologized.
“Hagari is correct,” Liberman posted on 𝕏. “This is a law that seriously harms the functioning of the IDF and the security of the State of Israel. It’s a shame that Major General Hagari retracted and apologized. Even more deplorable is the conduct of the chief of staff, who time and time again fails before the reckless and irresponsible political echelon, which is ready to sacrifice the security of all of us on the altar of personal and coalition interests.”
After Hagari posted his apology, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated: “It is good that the IDF spokesperson was put in his place to ensure that such a statement will not be made again. In a democratic country, the military is not supposed to intervene in political matters, and certainly not to criticize legislation.”