Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister Netanyahu to National Security College cadets: “We are turning Israel into a regional superpower, and in some things, a global superpower. We need very strong defense, independent production capability, and to deepen our relative advantage.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today with cadets from the National Security College; Major Generals in the IDF and senior officials in the security branches.

The Prime Minister reviewed with them the crucial decisions throughout the “War of Independence” that led to the transformation of the entire Middle East, and answered their questions.

By Pesach Benson • January 19, 2026

Jerusalem, 19 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Yonatan Urich, a close adviser to Israeli prime ministerBenjamin Netanyahu, was summoned for police interrogation on Monday as part of an expanding investigation into the leak of classified military documents to a German newspaper.

Urich was questioned at Lahav 433, Israel’s national serious crimes unit, in connection with a clandestine nighttime meeting between Eli Feldstein, Netanyahu’s former spokesman, and Tzachi Braverman, the prime minister’s chief of staff. Investigators believe the meeting may have involved efforts to obstruct an internal probe into the leak.

The affair, dubbed “BibiLeaks” by Israeli media, centers on suspicions that sensitive military material was leaked to the German tabloid Bild in 2024 in an attempt to influence Israeli public opinion regarding hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. It is one aspect of the larger “Qatargate” affair: Urich and Feldstein are suspected of accepting payment to promote pro-Qatari narratives to journalists, allegedly aiming to bolster Doha’s image as a mediator in Israel-Hamas hostage negotiations — while working in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Although Urich’s testimony formally focused on the meeting itself, police warned him at the outset that he is considered a suspect in the broader leak investigation, similar to Feldstein.

In an interview with Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, Feldstein described the unusual circumstances of the meeting. He said Braverman summoned him late at night to an underground parking garage at Israel’s main military and defense headquarters in Tel Aviv and demanded that he surrender his phone before speaking.

According to Feldstein, Braverman warned him that an investigation by the Israel Defense Force’s Information Security Department had been launched and was “creeping into the Prime Minister’s Office.” Feldstein further claimed that Braverman read him a list of names of individuals suspected in the affair. One key name, Ari Rosenfeld — later identified as the source of the leak — was allegedly missing from that list.

Feldstein told investigators that he later informed Urich about the meeting. Urich, however, has denied any knowledge of it.

On Sunday, Israel Police told a magistrate’s court that Urich had lied during his interrogations. According to police filings, he “evaded investigators’ questions” and “failed to address them earnestly.”

The investigation has widened in recent days. Police confirmed that a senior IDF officer, holding the rank of lieutenant colonel and formerly serving in the office of then–Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, was questioned under caution on suspicion of obstructing the investigation. The officer, now serving in a different role, was released under restrictive conditions. Halevi himself has also provided testimony, as has the commander of the IDF’s Information Security Unit, which previously conducted an internal inquiry that failed to identify the leaker.

Earlier this week, police appealed to the Central District Magistrate’s Court seeking to extend the suspension of both Braverman and Urich from their roles in the Prime Minister’s Office. The appeal challenged a lower court ruling that described the suspicions against Braverman as weak. Police argued that the court underestimated the risk of obstruction of justice, writing that lifting restrictions “ignores the fear of interference with legal proceedings and the special circumstances of the case.”

Regarding Urich, police said his private correspondence with Feldstein following the Bild publication undermines his claims of ignorance. According to investigators, the messages show Urich actively discussed “the authenticity and importance of the document,” contradicting his assertion that he had never seen or heard of it.

At the heart of the case is the allegation that Braverman told Feldstein during the parking garage meeting that he could “shut down the investigation,” a statement that forms the basis of the obstruction suspicions.

The leak bolstered Netanyahu’s position that military pressure, rather than diplomatic negotiations, would secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. Critics argue the document represented an effort by Netanyahu’s office to shift blame onto Hamas for the failure of the talks.

The Prime Minister’s Office has not issued a formal response to the latest developments.

prime minister‘s Office:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met yesterday (Sunday) at his office in Jerusalem with the President-elect of Honduras, Nasry “Tito” Asfura.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

“I am happy to welcome you, Mr. President. We are reshaping the relations between Israel and Honduras in accordance with the traditional lines of friendship, but we also want to embrace the future. I welcome you to Jerusalem; this is an ancient city, but also a city that looks forward to innovation and cooperation with you and with the people of Honduras. I look forward to working together with your government in economic fields, as well as in agriculture, technology, and any of the fields before us. You should know, as far as Israel is concerned, the sky is the limit.”

President-elect of Honduras Nasry Asfura:

“Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister. I am convinced that in everything you have mentioned, we will be able to implement and also lead for the sake of peace, brotherhood, and the future of our countries.”

prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today at his office in Jerusalem with the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Paul Atkins.

The meeting discussed the possibility of advancing a mechanism for mutual recognition of securities registration, similar to the Multi-Jurisdictional Disclosure System (MJDS) model practiced in the U.S., which allows for mutual regulatory reliance between securities authorities. This move is expected to facilitate Israeli companies traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to also register for trading in the U.S., while reducing regulatory duplications, streamlining reporting procedures, and increasing companies’ accessibility to international capital markets.

This is significant news for the investing public, who will be able to trade securities listed on U.S. stock exchanges with ease and accessibility, while gaining exposure to high-quality and valuable companies. The parties agreed that joint professional teams from the securities authorities will meet to examine the feasibility of advancing the model and the necessary regulatory adjustments for its implementation between Israel and the U.S.

Participants in the meeting included, among others, Chairman of the National Economic Council, Prof. Avi Simhon, Director General of the Israel Securities Authority, Oded Shacham, and the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, today, at the Prime Minister’s Office, met with honduran president-elect Nasry “Tito” Asfura.

Prime Minister Netanyahu:

“I’m delighted to welcome you, Mr. President. We’re refashioning the relationship between Israel and Honduras to the traditional lines of friendship, but we want to also seize the future. I welcome you in Jerusalem. It’s an ancient city, but it’s also a city that looks forward to innovation and to cooperation, with you and the people of Honduras. I look forward to working with your government, both in economic fields and agriculture and technology in any of the areas that I think are laid before us. You should know that as far as Israel is concerned, the sky is the limit.”

Honduran President-elect Nasry Asfura:

“Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. I am convinced that we will be able to implement everything you said and also lead toward the peace, brotherhood and future of our countries.”

Video credit: Roi Avraham (GPO).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today at his office in Jerusalem with the management of ZAKA and its volunteers

During the meeting, the Prime Minister presented a certificate of appreciation to the organization’s members for their activities in Operation “With the Lion”.

The Prime Minister expressed his deep appreciation and thanked the organization’s volunteers on his behalf, on behalf of the government of Israel, and on behalf of the citizens of Israel for their important work.

ZAKA CEO Zvi Chassid and dozens of volunteers thanked the Prime Minister for his leadership during the war and for his recognition of the many volunteers and his support for the organization.

By Pesach Benson • January 14, 2026

Jerusalem, 14 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Former Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi has been summoned to testify in an expanding investigation into suspected obstruction of a probe into the leak of a classified document to the German tabloid Bild. The inquiry centers on whether aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to derail the investigation into the leak, which came amid intense public scrutiny following the execution of six Israeli hostages by Hamas in August 2024.

Halevi, who served as Israel’s chief of staff until last year, ordered the Israel Defense Forces’ Military Police Criminal Investigation Division to examine the leak and involved the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) in the inquiry. Police say Halevi’s testimony is expected to clarify how the investigation was initiated and managed.

Halevi stepped down as Chief of Staff in March 2025 as the army’s investigations into the failures of the October 7 attack neared completion.

Central to the probe is Netanyahu’s chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, who is suspected of attempting to obstruct the investigation. Authorities allege that Braverman met with Netanyahu’s former spokesman, Eli Feldstein, in a late-night encounter at an underground parking lot of the IDF’s Tel Aviv headquarters. During that meeting, Feldstein claims Braverman presented him with a list of names connected to the inquiry and told him he could “switch off the investigation.”

In a television interview aired on the Kan 11 public broadcaster last month, Feldstein placed the prime minister himself at the center of the controversy, stating that Braverman was aware of a covert investigation months before it became public and had offered assurances that it could be quashed. Feldstein, who is a key figure in the so-called Bild affair, said the leak was intended to “serve the boss” by influencing public perception of Israeli hostage negotiations with Hamas.

The investigation is linked to a 2024 leak in which a classified Israeli military document detailing Hamas’s position on hostage negotiations was published abroad. The leak bolstered Netanyahu’s position that military pressure, rather than diplomatic negotiations, would secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. Critics argue the document represented an effort by Netanyahu’s office to shift blame onto Hamas for the failure of the talks.

The case has drawn in other senior aides. Omar Mansour, Netanyahu’s deputy spokesman, was questioned under caution and removed from the Prime Minister’s Office for 15 days. During the court hearing at Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court, Judge Menachem Mizrahi questioned why Mansour — who, according to Feldstein, only held phones during the parking lot meeting — was being treated as a suspect. “Assuming everything Feldstein claims is true, what is the suspicion against Mansour? How would he know what was happening? Mansour is the glove compartment,” Mizrahi said.

A police representative countered that there was a “concrete suspicion” that Mansour deliberately turned a blind eye.

The court also addressed appeals filed by Braverman and Mansour against restrictions barring them from the Prime Minister’s Office while the investigation continues. Police noted that Feldstein was questioned under caution on Sunday regarding the alleged obstruction, and Judge Mizrahi pressed investigators on why Braverman had been detained before Feldstein was formally questioned. “You moved to raid based on a television version,” Mizrahi said, ordering that the raw footage of Feldstein’s interview be handed over to the authorities.

Police describe the new obstruction case as “at a preliminary stage,” but maintain it justifies restrictions on high-level contacts between Netanyahu’s staff and other individuals tied to the leak. Authorities also highlighted that multiple senior figures in the Prime Minister’s Office are now under scrutiny, including Yonatan Urich, who was previously named in the investigation.

By Pesach Benson • January 12, 2026

Jerusalem, 12 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s governing coalition on Monday introduced a bill that would abolish the criminal offense of “fraud and breach of trust,” a key charge in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial. The move has sparked fierce criticism from opposition parties, who say the legislation is designed to protect Netanyahu and undermine the rule of law.

The bill is expected to be considered by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation next week before moving to the Knesset for further debate.

Netanyahu, on trial since 2020, faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three high-profile cases, known as Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000. The legislation, if passed, would repeal Article 284 of Israel’s Penal Code, which has defined the offense since 1977.

Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, accepting bribes, and breach of trust stemming from three separate police investigations. He denies all wrongdoing.

In the case known as the “Bezeq Affair,” Netanyahu, while serving as communications minister, is accused of granting regulatory benefits to the Bezeq telecom giant. In return, Bezeq’s majority shareholder, Shaul Elovitch, allegedly provided Netanyahu with favorable coverage on the Walla news site, which he owned.

In the second investigation, known as the “Yediot Affair,” Netanyahu allegedly helped *Yediot Aharonot* publisher Arnon Mozes by advancing regulations on newspaper distribution to Mozes’s advantage. In exchange, Mozes is accused of offering Netanyahu favorable coverage.

In a separate investigation known as the “Gifts Affair,” Netanyahu and his wife Sara are accused of accepting $200,000 in gifts from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan in exchange for assistance with a U.S. visa and changes to tax provisions benefiting Milchan. This case is widely regarded as the most serious one against Netanyahu.

In a joint statement, the bill’s sponsors — MKs Ofir Katz (Likud), Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionist Party), and Michel Buskila (New Hope) — described the offense as vague and prone to abuse. “This offense enables selective and biased enforcement,” the lawmakers said, arguing that it has been used to prosecute officials for conduct that is ethically questionable but not clearly criminal. They added that Israel already has laws covering bribery, money laundering, fraud, forgery, insider trading, and obstruction of justice, and the bill would introduce clearer criminal provisions, including conflicts of interest involving close relatives and misuse of government information. At the same time, the coalition said disciplinary and ethics enforcement would be strengthened.

Opposition leaders denounced the bill as an attack on democracy. “This is not a reform; it is a full-fledged coup that will turn Israel into a failed and backward third-world country,” said Yair Lapid, leader of Yesh Atid. He vowed to fight the bill “in the Knesset, in the streets, and in the courts.”

Yair Golan, head of the left-wing Democrats party, described it as “a truly mafia-like move by a government whose senior figures are evading justice.” He added, “The message to the public is clear: it is permissible to deceive and betray trust, as long as the seat of power remains secure.”

Civil society groups echoed the alarm. Tomer Naor, vice president for law and strategy at the Movement for Quality Government, said, “The offense of fraud and breach of trust is one of the strongest defenses we have for integrity in public life. Its abolition would leave sophisticated corruption effectively legal.”

Netanyahu made the unprecedented move of submitting an “extraordinary” pardon request to President Isaac Herzog in November.

No serving Israeli prime minister has ever been indicted on criminal charges. Ehud Olmert stepped down in 2008 ahead of his own indictment for corruption. Olmert was eventually convicted and served two-thirds of a 27-month prison sentence.

Prime Minister Netanyahu in the Knesset Plenum: “We will not allow Iran to rebuild its missile or nuclear industry”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech this week in the Knesset plenum as part of a 40-signature discussion: “President Trump and I have expressed a firm stance – we will not allow Iran to rebuild its ballistic missile industry or renew its nuclear program.” The Prime Minister also said: “We identify with the struggle of the Iranian people and their aspiration for freedom and justice. If we are attacked – the consequences for Iran will be very severe.”
Netanyahu also addressed the law for integrating yeshiva students into security service: “We are advancing a historic plan that will lead to the enlistment of 23,000 Haredim in the next three and a half years. This is a real revolution.” Regarding the investigation committee for the October 7th events, he said: “There will be no broad trust in an investigation committee in which more than half the nation is not represented and does not believe in it.”
Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid responded to the Prime Minister’s remarks: “We managed this country much better than you, more quietly and more efficiently. We don’t just think about ourselves, but about all citizens of Israel.” The Opposition leader added: “The cost of living is crushing an entire generation here. There is a record of negative immigration. People are leaving because they have despaired, they have stopped believing in the future of the State of Israel.”

IDF Representative Revealed in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Discussion How Many Haredim Enlisted

Head of the Manpower Planning and Administration Division, Brigadier General Shay Tayeb, noted in the foreign affairs and Defense Committee discussion held on Sunday the enlistment data as of that day: “As of noon, there were over 210 combat soldiers and over 140 support personnel, and it is likely that in ten days this will conclude with the largest enlistment in recent times.”

This week’s discussion dealt with the revocation of personal benefits for those who did not report for regular service. Among the benefits to be revoked: driver’s license, revocation of scholarships and financial assistance, restriction of exit from the country, ineligibility to apply for positions designated for groups entitled to affirmative action, and revocation of eligibility for tax credits. Deputy Director of Budgets at the Treasury, Kfir Batat, said regarding the economic sanctions: “Almost everything listed in the immediate sanctions are things that are already prohibited by law. Regarding future sanctions, the expiration date of the sanctions renders most of them void.” MK Yitzhak Goldknopf insisted during the meeting: “We insist that there will be no sanctions on Torah scholars.”

Mayors from the Negev in the Committee for Strengthening and Developing the Negev and Galilee Discussion: We are living in a reality of personal insecurity

These remarks were made in a discussion held following the “pogrom in the Negev settlements.” Southern District Police Commander, Superintendent Shlomi Darai, said: “There is still much to improve, but the business outputs of the Southern District do not lie; whoever takes the law into their own hands – we will attack them with all means.” Chairman of the committee, MK Oded Forer: “The situation in the Negev is far from excellent and is not solely the responsibility of the Israel Police but of the entire government, and it will not end with just one operation. I do not accept the assertion that the situation is improving.”

Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem: “70,000 residents have no protection against infiltrators”

This was warned by Yael Antabi regarding the residents of the Neve Yaakov and Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhoods in the capital, during a joint discussion of the State Audit Committee headed by MK Alon Schuster and the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee headed by MK Boaz Bismut, which took place this week. The discussion dealt with the operational and infrastructural situation on the seam line and at the crossings of the Jerusalem envelope. Representatives of the settlements in the Jerusalem envelope added: “There is no single body managing the crossings, and a security failure has occurred.” According to the Comptroller’s report on the matter from the past month, there are breaches in the seam line used for the passage of illegal infiltrators. According to the audit findings, there have been delays in repairing damage to the fence and in maintaining the technological components installed on it, there is a shortage of dedicated personnel, and in the quality of the technological response for monitoring and inspection.

Discussion on Police Enforcement Against Ethiopians: “Cases are opened wholesale”

The Committee for Removing Barriers, which convened this week, discussed police enforcement against Ethiopians, some of whom testified at the hearing about violence from police officers. One of them told the committee: “I was arrested for lack of identification and then they tasered me in the back while I was handcuffed.” MK Pnina Tamano protested to the police representatives who participated in the discussion: “You are opening cases wholesale. We are in a state of survival, and I am discovering insensitivity and a wall and a lack of responsibility. Israel Police, you are going the wrong way.” Committee Chairman MK Michael Biton: “There is a prevalence of hundreds of percent in arrests relative to their size in the population.” The police representative responded: “We need to sit together and lead joint activity. We will spare no effort and will come with data, and where we are not good, we will do everything to be better.”

The Election Committee and the Shin Bet Established a Team to Deal with External Influences Ahead of the Elections

This was reported in a discussion of the Subcommittee of the Science and Technology Committee, which dealt with dealing with awareness campaigns based on artificial intelligence, especially during election periods. The CEO of the Election Committee, Orly Adas, emphasized in the discussion that the existing law is outdated and noted as an example: “It is not stipulated that lying in election propaganda is forbidden.” It was noted in the discussion that the Election committee and the Shin Bet have established a team to deal with external influences, due to concerns about fake AI-based campaigns. Adas said that the Election Committee has already held preliminary discussions with Meta and TikTok, but the committee has no ability to act with X and Telegram networks due to the lack of representation in Israel.

In a discussion of the State Audit Committee, headed by MK Alon Schuster, which took place this week and dealt with the same issue, the CEO of the Central Election Committee called: “We must consider adopting the European Union’s decision and promoting legislation that will require clear labeling of content created by artificial intelligence.” She explained: “It is impossible to clean the network of millions of videos and campaigns created with the click of a button.”

The Ministry of Health will clarify to hospitals: Operate an acute room at all hours of the day

The Director of the Department for the treatment of Sexual Assaults at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Zohar Sahar, made these remarks in a discussion of the Health Committee that dealt with the operation of acute rooms. The Chairperson of the committee, MK Limor Son Har Melech, clarified: “Medical treatment in an acute room is a basic right and is not conditional on filing a police complaint. No victim should give up her health due to incorrect information or lack of clarity in the process.”

The Economics Committee Discussed the Regulation of Mortgage Counseling: “A difference of hundreds of thousands of shekels”

President of LAHAV, Adv. Roi Cohen, explained: “A difference of heaven and earth and hundreds of thousands of shekels between professional advice and someone receiving incorrect service.” The initiators of the law, MK Asher and Beliak: “The cost of living is most evident in mortgages.” Committee Chairman MK David Bitan: Regulation in the industry is important, we will advance the proposal quickly.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child: A shortage of approximately 3,000 educational assistants

This was estimated by the Center for Local Government, in a committee discussion that dealt with the intermittent closure of kindergartens due to a severe shortage of early childhood personnel. The shortage leads to sudden and repeated closures of kindergartens, shortened school days, and cancellation of afternoon programs. Committee Chairperson, MK Keti Shitrit: “It is unacceptable for the education system to operate through temporary solutions, improvisations, and surprise closures, instead of a structured policy.”

Amendment to the Law Regarding Contract Interpretation Approved

This week, the Knesset plenum approved in its second and third readings an amendment to the Contracts Law (General Part), according to which the interpretation of a contract will be as the parties agreed; a business contract in which no provisions for interpretation are specified – will be interpreted according to its wording alone, unless the wording of the contract leads to an unreasonable result or a contradiction between its provisions. The explanation for the amendment states: “The purpose of the amendment is to establish interpretation rules adapted to business contracts versus other contracts, in accordance with the trend in case law that distinguishes between different types of contracts, in order to bring greater certainty to the business world and assist in reducing the burden on the courts.”

Prime Minister’s Office:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a historic joint declaration yesterday (Sunday) with the German Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt:

“Iran and its proxies – Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis – threaten not only Israel but also regional stability and international security. The declaration signed today anchors deep cooperation with Germany in the fields of cyber, counter-terrorism, and advanced technologies, and translates a security commitment into joint action. Israel‘s enemies should know: our eyes are on them at all times and in all places.”

The declaration signed anchors Germany’s deep commitment to the security of the State of Israel, and elevates the security-technological cooperation between the countries to a new strategic level.

The declaration formalizes a broad security partnership between the security authorities of the two countries in the fields of cyber defense, advanced technologies, law enforcement, counter-terrorism, and civil defense, and reflects Germany’s historical responsibility – including strengthening Holocaust remembrance and cooperation with Yad Vashem.

The signing of the declaration, especially against the backdrop of the Hamas attack on October 7th, constitutes a defining moment in deepening the security, technological, and values-based alliance between Israel and Germany.

– Still photos: Kobi Gideon/GPO.