Latest on BibiLeaks: Netanyahu's Legal and Political Turmoil

The war criminal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently became the subject of an international arrest warrant, finds himself in an increasingly precarious position, with a mounting number of legal challenges and scandals haunting him.

This follows the BibiLeaks scandal, in which sensitive documents were leaked from his office—documents allegedly forged and obtained through blackmail by the Israeli military.

Five members of his office were arrested, with accusations pointing to Netanyahu as the orchestrator of the operation.

On November 13, 2024, the Jerusalem District Court rejected Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to postpone his testimony in corruption and bribery cases—delayed since July 2024—on the grounds that he was too preoccupied with the war. 

This ruling means the prime minister will be compelled to testify on December 2, 2024.

A third development, which could potentially bring down his government, occurred when the Attorney General demanded that Netanyahu dismiss the far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir. 

In response, Ben Gvir demanded that Netanyahu either fire the Attorney General or face the collapse of the coalition.

Further turmoil erupted as several ministers in Netanyahu's government implicitly incited violence against the Attorney General, a move seen by the opposition as part of Netanyahu's ongoing attempt to reignite his judicial overhaul, which seeks to curtail the power of the judiciary.

‘BibiLeaks’ Scandal

The term BibiLeaks—a play on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s nickname "Bibi" and the word "Leaks"—refers to the latest in a series of scandals involving Netanyahu, aimed at deceiving both the Israeli and international public to maintain support for his genocidal war on Gaza.

The scandal revolves around the deliberate leaking of classified documents from Netanyahu’s office, orchestrated by what has been called the “Bibi Office Spies.” 

These operatives manipulated the documents before sending them to foreign media outlets, with the apparent goal of bolstering Netanyahu’s narrative against negotiating a prisoner swap with Hamas. The incident took place in early September 2024. 

According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority on November 10, 2024, the latest development reveals that Netanyahu’s chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, allegedly blackmailed an Israeli military officer with embarrassing photos in exchange for sensitive military documents, which were then leaked as part of a broader security breach that sent shockwaves through “Israel.” 

In the fallout, five members of Netanyahu's office were arrested, including Eli Feldstein, the prime minister's spokesperson, who attended secret meetings that he was not authorized to be part of.

It has emerged that Netanyahu’s office collected a series of sensitive security footage from cameras monitoring former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and a senior Israeli Occupation Forces Officer who had worked in the Prime Minister’s office, for unclear purposes.

According to The Times of Israel on November 8, 2024, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi was informed several months ago that the Prime Minister’s office had been holding onto "sensitive video footage" of the high-ranking officer, who had previously collaborated with Netanyahu’s office.

The so-called "Bibi Office Spies" allegedly blackmailed the officer with these videos, demanding he hand over military documents related to a potential prisoner swap with Hamas. 

The documents were then manipulated and leaked to the media to support Netanyahu’s stance on continuing the war. 

The Prime Minister's office has dismissed these claims as "fabrications," denying that such events took place.

On November 8, Yedioth Ahronoth confirmed that a group of Netanyahu’s aides had used "embarrassing information" related to an Israeli Ministry of Defense official to obtain sensitive documents connected to “the October 7 attack.”

The report stated that Netanyahu’s spies within the Israeli Occupation Forces employed this tactic to acquire the documents, which were then leaked to foreign media outlets to support the government’s narrative against a prisoner exchange deal.

Sources told the newspaper that this explains how officials in Netanyahu’s office were able to access some of the most sensitive documents and records—they allegedly used compromising personal information about a senior officer to blackmail him into providing them.

As for the video involving former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, it shows him in a heated altercation with a security guard at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in “Tel Aviv” on October 12, 2023, just days after the October 7 attack and the subsequent war on Gaza.

The Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu’s spokesperson, Yonatan Urish, swiftly obtained the footage of the incident, shared it with several individuals, and then kept it as leverage against Gallant.

On November 8, 2024, the Israeli legal adviser, Gali Baharav-Miara, authorized an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in relation to the so-called BibiLeaks scandal, and approved requests from the police and Shin Bet to interrogate him.

The investigation focuses on “security-related matters in his office,” including the leaking of highly classified documents to foreign newspapers and the alleged forgery of protocols from security cabinet meetings during the war, according to Ma'ariv.

Under Israeli Basic Law, a criminal investigation against the Prime Minister cannot be opened without the approval of the Attorney General. 

If the investigation escalates to involve the Prime Minister in matters of national security, it must be suspended until the legal adviser grants permission to proceed—permission which was granted in this case.

On November 17, 2024, the Israeli prosecution filed a lawsuit before the Magistrate's Court in Rishon Lezion against Netanyahu’s adviser and an intelligence officer, accusing them of leaking confidential information.

The lawsuit stated that they are charged with leaking fabricated sensitive security documents to support the government's stance of stalling a prisoner swap deal with Hamas, in connection with the case now known as the "Forged Hamas Documents."

The lawsuit stated that they are accused of leaking fabricated sensitive security documents to support the government's position of stalling a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, in connection with the case now known as the "Forged Sinwar Documents."

The ultimate goal of the BibiLeaks scandal was to get the "forged secret documents" into the hands of the Jewish Chronicle (UK) and Bild (Germany), presenting them as plans belonging to the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

The documents falsely claimed that Sinwar had rejected a prisoner swap and intended to smuggle the prisoners to Iran via Egypt. 

This was later proven to be a lie, and The Jewish Chronicle issued an apology, firing the editor involved, who turned out to be a former Israeli soldier linked to BibiLeaks.

Four of Netanyahu’s operatives now face potential prison sentences of up to 15 years. However, the media focus has shifted to Netanyahu himself, with questions surrounding how much he knew about the affair—an issue that has overshadowed hostage negotiations and contributed to a surge in military operations.

Political analyst Amos Harel of Haaretz raised these questions on November 18, 2024, asking whether Netanyahu’s aide acted alone. 

He also speculated that the gag orders imposed by Netanyahu’s office were designed to downplay the significance of BibiLeaks.

Harel also pointed out that attempts by right-wing media outlets loyal to Netanyahu to downplay the current scandal would likely fail. 

On November 19, 2024, he warned in Haaretz that the BibiLeaks case would be “the steep slope to the destruction of democracy could easily turn into a free fall.”

The Second Scandal

This first scandal is linked to another ongoing investigation, which centers on suspicions that officials in Netanyahu’s office attempted to alter the protocols of security cabinet deliberations held during the war.

There are also allegations of the falsification of transcripts from phone conversations between decision-makers, including Netanyahu, in the early days of the war, allegedly to absolve him of responsibility for the failure to repel the Operation al-Aqsa Flood.

The suspicions escalated after Netanyahu’s former military secretary, Avi Gil, approached the government’s legal adviser, Gali Baharav-Miara, more than six months ago to file a complaint.

He had been warned by officials in the Prime Minister’s office that certain figures there were attempting to manipulate parts of the protocols following several secret meetings. 

Netanyahu’s office has denied these allegations, labeling them as "absolute lie[s]."

On November 15, 2024, Ma’ariv reported that the government’s legal adviser had approved a request from the police and Shin Bet to launch an investigation into Netanyahu regarding security-related matters in his office.

The Third Scandal

This scandal is both legal and political, with Netanyahu facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. 

The case dates back to 2022 and was originally scheduled to be heard in July 2024, but Netanyahu repeatedly requested to delay his testimony, citing his involvement in the ongoing war.

Netanyahu has already stood trial on charges of corruption, fraud, and abuse of power, but proceedings were halted due to his position as Prime Minister, which grants him legal immunity from criminal prosecution, as well as the ongoing wars on Gaza and Lebanon.

A new development in this case occurred on November 12, 2024, when the Israeli Attorney General rejected Netanyahu's request to postpone his testimony in court regarding the corruption charges. 

“The public interest in this case requires that the trial be concluded as quickly as possible,” said the Attorney General’s office in a statement to the Jerusalem District Court.

This is where the name of the government’s legal adviser, Gali Baharav-Miara, comes into play, as she advised the Attorney General not to accept Netanyahu's request for a delay, paving the way for a decision. 

This means Netanyahu must begin giving his testimony on December 2, 2024, despite his lawyers’ request to postpone until February 2025 due to his involvement in the war.

Netanyahu’s trial on corruption charges resumed in December 2023 after a two-month hiatus following the declaration of a state of emergency due to the war in Gaza.

The most prominent corruption charges against Netanyahu, known as Case 1000 or the "Gifts Case," involve allegations that he and his family received expensive gifts, including jewelry for his wife, Sara, from wealthy businessmen.

Under Israeli law, Netanyahu is not required to resign from office unless convicted by the Supreme Court, a decision which hinges on the final judgment of the court.

Kill the Legal Adviser!

The Israeli government’s legal adviser, Gali Baharav-Miara, has become the target of vitriol and calls for her removal after supporting investigations into Netanyahu’s various scandals—from leaking and forging office documents to bribery charges, and even the concealment of meeting records related to the Operation al-Aqsa Flood. 

In response, Netanyahu has sought to dismiss her and tarnish her reputation.

Baharav-Miara, the Attorney General, is responsible for providing legal counsel to the government, representing the state in court, and is part of the executive branch, overseeing the preparation of legal memoranda for government matters.

On November 4, 2024, Netanyahu hinted at the possibility of firing her, describing her as “adversarial” with his government and calling for a “solution” to the situation. 

He asked Justice Minister Yariv Levin to propose a solution to the apparent clash, with some of his supporters going so far as to incite violence against her.

On November 18, 2024, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that an Israeli minister confirmed Netanyahu was now seriously considering the dismissal of Baharav-Miara after members of his coalition launched a campaign to pressure her into resigning or face dismissal. 

The minister stated, "Netanyahu is now signaling that he plans to fire her and replace her with a consigliere who will approve everything."

Sources within the government said that Netanyahu now feels emboldened by the successes in the war and by the reshuffling in the U.S. administration, as well as the ousting of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant without opposition.

The report also revealed that Netanyahu’s advisers now view the firing of the legal adviser as "inevitable," calling her a "central obstacle" to the government's ability to pass laws exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service and funding their daycare centers.

Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition, has threatened that "if she is dismissed, we will once again raise the issue of the prime minister's incapacity to govern," implying Netanyahu’s own potential removal.

“The threats against Baharav-Miara […]constitute evidence that the government is returning to the [judicial overhaul] with all its might.” Lapid argued, “The attempts to replace her are part of Netanyahu’s and his government’s attempt to fundamentally destroy Israeli democracy during wartime.”

The threat to oust Gali Baharav-Miara, the Attorney General, came amid reports suggesting the government might resume its legislative efforts to weaken the judiciary—efforts that Baharav-Miara had previously opposed vehemently.

The situation has taken an alarming turn, with calls for incitement to murder the Attorney General emanating from Netanyahu’s ministers, one of whom even referenced the Talmud in advocating violence against her.

Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi launched a fierce attack on the legal adviser on November 17, 2024, using a phrase drawn from the Talmud that incites violence against her.

In a highly controversial statement, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, using language inspired by the Talmud, seemed to incite violence against the country’s legal adviser, Gali Baharav-Miara. 

"The attorney general must go home today. A person who gets up to kill you — including through weakness and agreement through silence — rise up and fire him." 

The original phrase, however, reads, "If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first" , a statement that opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned as “openly inciting murder against the attorney general.”

The tension escalated further when, on November 15, 2024, Baharav-Miara demanded that Prime Minister Netanyahu reconsider the appointment of far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, to his post, essentially calling for his dismissal. 

This call for action stemmed from Ben-Gvir’s repeated interference in police operations and promotions, ensuring loyalty to him rather than to the public. Additionally, there are ongoing cases before the Supreme Court that also call for his removal.

Baharav-Miara's request is compounded by ongoing Supreme Court cases seeking his removal. 

She accused him of repeatedly and aggressively intervening in police actions contrary to court orders and attempting to deter judges from carrying out their duties, mocking their rulings in the process.

Netanyahu, however, rejected the call for Ben Gvir’s dismissal, claiming that removing him via the Supreme Court would spark a constitutional crisis. Ben Gvir, in turn, demanded that Netanyahu either dismiss Baharav-Miara or resign, warning that the government coalition would collapse.

Israeli Channel 12’s political correspondent noted that if Netanyahu were to accept Baharav-Miara's request, it could bring down his government, which had already been teetering on the brink following his handling of the Gaza crisis. 

Conversely, if Netanyahu rejects the legal adviser's request to dismiss Ben-Gvir, she will refer the case to the Supreme Court and call for his removal from office. The court will then decide, and if it orders his dismissal, Netanyahu's government will also collapse.