Court Orders Disclosure of Raw Interview Footage in High-Profile Leak Investigation

The Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court has mandated that KAN 11 journalist Omri Assenheim provide the full raw footage of his interview with Eli Feldstein, a former spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office. This ruling is part of two ongoing criminal investigations, including a probe into the leak of a classified Israel Defense Forces (IDF) document to the German newspaper Bild. Judge Menachem Mizrahi emphasized the necessity of the unedited footage to assess the context and accuracy of Feldstein's statements, which have reportedly varied during police questioning. The court noted that the raw material is crucial for evaluating contradictions between Feldstein's televised remarks and other evidence.

Judge orders KAN journalist to submit raw footageCourt orders Kan to provide police, suspect with raw materials from Feldstein interviewCourt extends restrictions on Urich in Bild leak probe

The investigation into the Bild leak, which occurred in September 2024, centers on the unauthorized disclosure of a classified IDF document related to internal assessments about Hamas's negotiating posture. This leak raised significant concerns within Israel's security establishment, prompting inquiries into whether sensitive information was improperly disseminated from the Prime Minister's Office or its immediate circle. The case is intertwined with the "Qatargate" investigation, which examines alleged undisclosed connections between individuals close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatari interests.

Judge orders KAN journalist to submit raw footageCourt extends restrictions on Urich in Bild leak probe

KAN and Assenheim have argued that the court's order infringes on journalistic privilege and could negatively impact press freedom. However, Judge Mizrahi ruled that the need for justice in this case outweighs the protections typically afforded to journalistic sources. He stated that discouraging misleading public statements by suspects does not undermine the public interest. The court also clarified that while Urich, a suspect in the investigations, requested access to the footage, it would only be provided to police investigators, not directly to him.

Judge orders KAN journalist to submit raw footage

In a related development, the Central District Court in Lod has extended the restrictive conditions on Yonatan Urich, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, for an additional 60 days. This includes a travel ban and a no-contact order with individuals connected to the investigation. The court's decision reflects concerns that Urich's return to the Prime Minister's Office could jeopardize the ongoing investigation, which involves serious allegations of unlawful possession and dissemination of classified material.

Court extends restrictions on Urich in Bild leak probe

Critics of the court's ruling have raised concerns about the potential chilling effect on journalism. They argue that compelling journalists to disclose raw footage could deter whistleblowers and sources from coming forward in the future. However, the court maintained that the integrity of the investigation takes precedence over these concerns.

Judge orders KAN journalist to submit raw footage

• “He wrote that the raw footage is necessary to examine context, sequencing, omissions, and the precise circumstances in which Feldstein’s statements were made.” — Judge Menachem Mizrahi

Judge orders KAN journalist to submit raw footage

• “He added that discouraging inaccurate or misleading public versions by suspects would not undermine the public interest.” — Judge Menachem Mizrahi

Judge orders KAN journalist to submit raw footage

This ruling and the ongoing investigations highlight the delicate balance between press freedom and the pursuit of justice in high-stakes political contexts.

Judge orders KAN journalist to submit raw footage