Lapid accuses Netanyahu of distorting testimony, urges investigation

Lapid said the publication went beyond political disagreement and may constitute a breach of the Official Secrets Law.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Opposition figures on Monday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of manipulating official security records in a document submitted to the state comptroller regarding the October 7 attack, with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid urging authorities to examine whether a criminal investigation is warranted, the Times of Israel reports.

Lapid alleged that a 55-page file released last week by the Prime Minister’s Office, containing Netanyahu’s written responses to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, selectively quoted cabinet discussions in a way that distorted what took place.

He said the publication went beyond political disagreement and may constitute a breach of the Official Secrets Law.

“The Netanyahu document is a forgery of security protocols in an official document issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, in a way that must be intentional,” Lapid said ahead of his party’s faction meeting.

He added that those involved in releasing the material were “involved in a cover-up, fraud, and a conspiracy designed to deceive the state comptroller, the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and the Israeli public.”

Lapid said he had written to legal and security officials requesting clarification and that, depending on the response, the Shin Bet and police would need to decide whether to open a criminal probe.

According to Lapid, Netanyahu’s summary of a security consultation held on October 1, 2023 omitted critical recommendations from then-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and then-IDF chief Herzi Halevi to prepare for escalation scenarios and possible military action in Gaza following urgent intelligence warnings.

Lapid claimed Netanyahu instead directed efforts toward maintaining quiet and advancing civil arrangements with Hamas.

Other former senior officials echoed the criticism. Blue and White leader Benny Gantz described the document as a “rewriting of history,” saying he personally witnessed instances in which Netanyahu declined military options later attributed to the security establishment.

Former defense minister Yoav Gallant said in a television interview, “We have a liar for prime minister,” accusing Netanyahu of shifting responsibility when outcomes were unfavorable. Gadi Eisenkot wrote to Englman that the document constituted a “fabricated defense” drawn from confidential minutes.

Netanyahu released the document shortly after a closed-door Knesset session in which he reportedly accused Bar of falsifying October 7 records and claimed he had sought to target Hamas leadership in 2014 but was blocked by security officials.

Benjamin NetanyahuoppositionYair Lapid