Prosecutors appeal court’s decision to release Netanyahu aide Feldstein to house arrest

State prosecutors appeal the decision yesterday by the Tel Aviv District Court to order the release to house arrest of Eli Feldstein, an aide and spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with an IDF reservist, who were both held and charged over the alleged leak of classified documents to foreign press.

The appeal means the two will not be released to house arrest today.

While the Tel Aviv judge warned yesterday he saw insufficient evidence to back up the state’s charge against Feldstein of intending to harm national security, he did indicate that there was “clear” evidence that Feldstein had knowingly breached military censorship when leaking a stolen classified IDF document.

Feldstein and the second unnamed suspect have been held in custody for more than a month on suspicion of leaking the stolen classified intelligence information to the foreign press.

This morning, Feldstein’s lawyer said his client decided to stop taking the fall for the premier and his office.

The case is centered around the alleged leak of a highly classified document to the German newspaper Bild in September, which ostensibly detailed Hamas’s priorities and tactics in hostage negotiations with the alleged aim of turning public opinion against a deal.

Netanyahu has sought to distance himself from the case, insisting that he only learned about the existence of the classified document from the media.