IDF reservist charged in PM’s office leaks case seeks to lift gag order on his name; prosecution opposes

The IDF reservist charged in the Prime Minister’s Office security documents leak scandal asks the court for permission to publish his name, which is under a gag order.

Hebrew media reports that the reservist, who is charged with transferring classified information as well as theft by an authorized person and obstruction of justice, tells the court during today’s hearing that he made a mistake, but says, “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.”

Hebrew media also reports that the state prosecution opposes the request to lift the gag order, stating that security officials believe “publishing his name would reveal the secret information to which he was exposed during his service in the Intelligence Corps.”

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

The reservist’s legal team last week petitioned President Isaac Herzog for a pardon in the case, saying he “understood that his acts were forbidden and would not repeat them.” Admitting guilt and expressing remorse are conditions for a presidential pardon.

Herzog’s office said it had received the pardon request and had begun looking into the matter.