Military Reporter Accuses Defense Minister Katz of Political Interference in Commander Replacement Amid Corruption Allegations

Military correspondent Doron Kedosh revealed that the Defense Minister's office was responsible for leaking severe allegations against settler Tal Yinon Dradik to the press. Kedosh sharply criticized Defense Minister Israel Katz for announcing live on air the replacement of Central Command Chief Major General Avi Blot with Major General Dado Bar-Kalifa, arguing that a commander should not learn of their dismissal through television.

Kedosh accused Katz of pressuring Major General Blot to comply with questionable orders, while Blot insisted on exercising his exclusive authority over administrative restrictions. Blot’s "offense," according to Kedosh, was refusing to release Dradik, who is suspected of serious offenses against Palestinians and considered a security threat by the Shin Bet. Kedosh claimed Katz’s actions are motivated by internal Likud primary elections rather than security concerns.

He further alleged Katz succumbed to aggressive political pressure related to Dradik’s case, which harms the right-wing image ahead of the primaries. Kedosh described Katz’s public distress during a live broadcast when confronted with audience calls about Dradik. He also disclosed that Katz’s spokesperson had recently briefed journalists on the gravity of the allegations, including a Shin Bet document revealing Dradik’s suspected involvement in an incident where settlers tied a Palestinian’s genitals with handcuffs.

Kedosh said the leak from Katz’s office was the source of public knowledge about the intelligence on Dradik. When a Channel 14 reporter nearly exposed the source of the leak, Katz’s office demanded the deletion of the report. Kedosh concluded that Katz knowingly prioritizes political considerations over security, repeatedly interfering in the military and failing to act responsibly as Israel’s defense minister for over a year and a half.