Shimkha Bresler Says Protective Steps Are Being Taken After Partner’s Identity Was Exposed

Prof. Shimkha Bresler, one of the leaders of the Kaplan protests, spoke publicly for the first time about the disclosure of her partner’s identity as a veteran Shin Bet employee by MK Tali Gottlieb. In a wide-ranging interview with Gidon Oko and Amichai Atali, Bresler rejected the idea that the episode should be treated only as a personal tragedy, and instead described it as part of a broader security and political failure.

Bresler accused the government of being willing to harm national security and abandon citizens to advance what she called its “crazy ideology” or personal interests. “At the most personal level, I think this should point, and does point, to a government of this kind, that has no problem choosing deliberate harm to state security while abandoning citizens in order to achieve their crazy ideology or personal interest,” she said.

Addressing Gottlieb directly, Bresler said the law protecting Shin Bet employees exists to safeguard them personally as well, and warned that the exposure sends a chilling message to thousands of Israeli security workers. “She needs to make noise for her momentary political success,” Bresler said. “There are thousands of security employees in Israel who now know that an MK in Israel is prepared to turn them into a target, illegally, while harming state security.”

Asked about the impact on her home and whether she feared for their lives now that her family has been exposed online, Bresler acknowledged that the family is going through difficult days. She described the situation as a moment of political clarity for the public, but refused to give details about security measures. “We are taking the necessary steps, I do not want to go into details,” she said.