Political Concerns Rise Over Netanyahu's Control of October War Protocols Ahead of Elections
With Israeli elections just two months away, political figures have expressed concern that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might exploit his near-total control over the classified protocols from the October 7 war to manipulate public perception for political gain. Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and a prime ministerial candidate, demanded the full release of the war cabinet protocols to ensure public access to the complete truth, especially in the absence of a state inquiry into the October 7 massacre. Eisenkot criticized Netanyahu’s campaign against him, which accused Eisenkot of blocking significant military actions, asserting that he had supported operations in Rafah and Gaza and was the sole voice advocating for a strong response against Iran, while Netanyahu hesitated and delegated decisions to a smaller ministerial committee.
Allegations have surfaced repeatedly that Netanyahu’s office selectively quotes from the war protocols to present a favorable narrative. In February, Netanyahu published a 55-page document responding to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman’s inquiries, which was criticized for bias, omissions, and shifting blame onto the defense establishment. A senior IDF official described the document as deceptive and manipulative. The Prime Minister’s Office and its military secretariat follow strict procedures for handling classified protocols, including detailed transcription, verification, and secure archiving. Access to these documents is tightly controlled, with numbered, color-coded hard copies distributed only to authorized personnel who must sign for receipt.
Despite these safeguards, suspicions arose that Netanyahu’s chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, requested changes to the date of a conversation between Netanyahu and the military secretary, raising concerns about potential manipulation. The office employs professional stenographers who serve as gatekeepers for protocol accuracy. Legal counsel warned that there is no legal framework permitting the public release of such classified documents, as Netanyahu did with the 55-page report, which effectively declassified sensitive materials prematurely.
In late November 2023, the government legal advisor instructed the National Security Council to collect all classified documents improperly transferred to Netanyahu’s office since the war began. This followed media reports that Braverman sought full access to classified summaries of security cabinet meetings from current and past governments. The legal advisor emphasized the critical need to prevent unauthorized disclosure of sensitive security discussions, especially during wartime, and noted ongoing consideration of legislation to regulate such matters.
The military secretary, Roman Gofman, who later became Mossad chief, was responsible for gathering these documents but reportedly did not inform the IDF chief of staff. Netanyahu’s move to publish the response to the state comptroller was seen by some former officials as unprecedented and improper, with one senior security figure calling it a serious breach of protocol and authority. The consensus among insiders is that while the prime minister has access to classified materials, he does not have the authority to declassify or alter them unilaterally, a power reserved for higher authorities.
