Shin Bet Suspected of Leaking Confidential Criminal Data to Journalist Ben Caspit
A defamation lawsuit filed by right-wing activist Elisha Yarad has revealed WhatsApp exchanges between journalist Ben Caspit and the Shin Bet spokespersons, suggesting the transfer of confidential information about Yarad's criminal past. The messages, disclosed during ongoing proceedings at the Central District Court, indicate that Caspit received detailed data on Yarad’s arrests, dates, and administrative removal orders, information protected under Israel’s Criminal Records Law and Privacy Protection Law and prohibited from being shared with private individuals.
The controversy arose after it was announced that Knesset member Limor Son Har-Melech from Otzma Yehudit appointed Yarad as her spokesperson. Caspit tweeted that Yarad was under administrative detention, a claim Yarad denied and sued Caspit for defamation. To defend his statement, Caspit submitted an affidavit including screenshots of his WhatsApp correspondence with Shin Bet’s spokespersons, showing that on November 13, 2022, he sought to verify the information. The Shin Bet spokesperson confirmed the details, stating Yarad had been detained administratively and in regular prison, and provided specifics such as 17 arrests, the last in August 2022 for four days, and multiple administrative removal orders from the West Bank lasting up to four months.
The nature of the information suggests it was sourced directly from Shin Bet’s criminal records, raising serious legal concerns since sharing such data with a private citizen or journalist may constitute a criminal offense. Caspit emphasized his full reliance on the security agency’s information. Elisha Yarad’s attorney, Menashe Yado from Honenu, condemned the Shin Bet’s actions as a severe criminal violation aimed at undermining a parliamentary appointment by Knesset member Son Har-Melech.
Requests for comment from Shin Bet regarding the leak and whether it was authorized have not been answered as of now. The case continues to unfold in the Central District Court in Tel Aviv.
