Court rules: Gag order on identity of IDF reservist charged in PM’s office leak scandal to be lifted Tuesday

The Tel Aviv District Court rules that the identity of the IDF reservist charged in the Prime Minister’s Office security documents leak scandal will be cleared for publication on Tuesday, following a request from the suspect.

Judge Alaa Masarwa says the two-day delay in releasing the reservist’s name will give the prosecution time to appeal.

Earlier today, Hebrew media reported that the reservist, who is charged with transferring classified information, as well as theft by an authorized person and obstruction of justice, told the court during today’s hearing that he made a mistake, but said, “I cannot fight for my good name when I am in the dark. The public needs to know who I am, what I did, and what my intentions were.”

The state prosecution was said to have opposed the request, citing a security assessment that “publishing his name would reveal the secret information to which he was exposed during his service in the Intelligence Corps.”

In his ruling, the judge says, “Publication of information regarding his rank and position will be prohibited,” along with “the areas of activity and arenas in which he engaged or specialized during his military service.”

The defendant is still in custody, while the other main defendant in the case, Eli Feldstein, is under house arrest.