Israeli Defense Ministry Criticizes Military Correspondent Over Censorship Breach and Misquotes

The Israeli Defense Ministry issued a rare and sharp condemnation of Doron Kedosh, the military correspondent for Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), accusing him of improper conduct, censorship violations, and harming his colleagues. The ministry announced that Kedosh was excluded from a recent press briefing due to his previous misconduct and censorship breaches. Despite not attending the briefing, Kedosh allegedly published incorrect statements and misquoted Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to the ministry's official statement. The ministry also accused Kedosh of breaking an embargo and damaging the professional and social standing of fellow reporters, including the station’s military analyst who was present at the briefing.

To counter the inaccurate quotes and clarify the minister’s position, the Defense Ministry took the unusual step of releasing the full transcript of Katz’s closed-door remarks. The transcript revealed behind-the-scenes details of Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the intense pressure exerted by the U.S. administration. Katz described Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s firm resistance to American attempts to link Iran to Lebanon during multiple phone calls with U.S. President Joe Biden. Katz emphasized that Netanyahu "fought bravely" against U.S. pressure while Israel was conducting extensive operations in Lebanon, including the evacuation of 1.3 million civilians from southern Lebanon and the Dahiya area.

Katz outlined the original Israeli strategy aimed at decisively weakening Hezbollah, including plans for aggressive strikes beyond southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. He noted that Hezbollah, under Iranian pressure, sought a ceasefire, a rare stance for a terrorist organization. However, the minister revealed that during a fifth call between Netanyahu and Biden, which Katz did not attend, the U.S. president insisted on linking the Lebanon and Iran fronts, leading to a scaled-back Israeli approach. Netanyahu agreed to avoid bombing buildings in Beirut but continued targeted strikes, including the elimination of a key Hezbollah commander.

Due to American and French pressure, Israel shifted to a "Plan B," which involved reinforcing the "yellow line" buffer zone and allowed displaced civilians to return to parts of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah also reestablished its presence south of the Litani River. Discussions then ensued about whether to expand military operations further, including maneuvers near Mount Hermon. The ministry’s disclosure aims to correct the record and provide transparency about the complex diplomatic and military dynamics surrounding the Lebanon conflict.