News Channel Accused of Leaking PM's Secret Trip After Censorship Ban

Channel 12 News is facing scrutiny after it allegedly published details of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's secret visit to the UAE, even after the military censor had prohibited the report due to security risks. Contrary to the channel's initial claim that the story was purely political and outside the censor's purview, a senior source within Channel 12 reportedly submitted the information for censorship approval before publication.

The censor ultimately deemed the report a security risk, citing the danger to the Prime Minister and his entourage while they were still en route back to Israel. Despite this explicit prohibition, Channel 12 proceeded to broadcast the story while Netanyahu's plane was still airborne and outside Israeli airspace. The Prime Minister's office stated that the report aired at 9:38 PM, while the plane did not land until 10:27 PM, nearly an hour later.

This sequence of events contradicts Channel 12's later statement that the report was aired around 10:00 PM, by which time they claimed the Prime Minister's plane had already landed, thus posing no threat. The fact that the information was initially presented to the censor raises questions about the channel's justification for publishing after being denied permission.

The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has filed a complaint with the chief military censor, arguing that the publication endangered Netanyahu, the mission, and ground forces. They also stated that the report revealed operational methods that could increase risks for future missions. The Mossad (National Intelligence Agency) also issued a statement through the Prime Minister's office, calling the leak a "severe security threat" that harmed national security.

The delegation on the secret flight included the head of the Mossad, the National Security Advisor, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, the head of the Shin Bet's security division, and air and security crews.