IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari attended a confidential meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday, where he apologized for his earlier expression of criticism of the government’s “Feldstein bill” at the beginning of the month.
Haragris’ public criticism of the bill at the time caused much controversy. The “Feldstein bill,” if passed, would make soldiers who make unauthorized transfers of classified documents to the offices of the prime minister or the secretary of defense immune from criminal liability.
At the time of Hagari’s first comments, the preliminary vote for the bill was being passed in the Knesset. Speaking publicly at a press conference, Hagari said the law was “very dangerous for the IDF” when asked about it.
During the confidential meeting that took place on Tuesday, Hagari said his statements “exceeded” his authority and he was rightly reprimanded for them.
“I apologize for what I said regarding the bill. You are the sovereign authority. I answered a journalist’s question. I should not have answered. The chief of staff reprimanded me, and rightly so,” Hagari said during the meeting.
He also affirmed his love for Israel, saying: “I love the country and the IDF. First of all, I want to address my position on the bill, which came up during a question I received at the end of my statement. I made a mistake, I exceeded my authority and I understood that I have taken responsibility, he continued.
Haragi added at the meeting that “the IDF must and should convey its position on legislation related to the military, such as the bill, through legitimate channels such as this forum.”
Hagari’s opening remarks
Hagari had initially said the bill was “dangerous because it would create a situation where any low-ranking official in the IDF could, at his discretion, steal and leak documents or intelligence information.”
“This is a serious issue that can endanger the lives and safety of soldiers, and it is very dangerous for the IDF and for the security of the state,” he added.
Shortly after the press conference, Hagari apologized for his remarks. He said: “I expressed myself in a way that exceeded my authority as an IDF spokesman. The State of Israel is a democratic state, and the IDF is subordinate to the political level.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz said then that Hagari’s statements were “a serious and extraordinary phenomenon, completely outside its authority and what is permitted and expected of anyone in uniform in a democratic regime.”
“I intend to take disciplinary action against him as soon as possible to draw the necessary conclusions,” Katz added.
Maya Gur Arieh contributed to this report.
