IDF preparing to demolish West Bank home of assailant in northern Israel terror rampage
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December 26, 2025
December 26, 2025
Senior official allegedly told ex-Netanyahu aide he could 'silence' IDF leak investigation |Haaretz exposé
Eli Feldstein, the former spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Shin Bet security service investigators last year that a "senior official in the Prime Minister's Office" had told him he could "silence" an Israel Defense Forces investigation into the leak of highly classified documents to the German newspaper Bild.
Prime Minister Netanyahu's Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman at the Knesset last year. Credit: Noam Rivkin Fenton
Prime Minister Netanyahu's Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman at the Knesset last year. Credit: Noam Rivkin Fenton
A Shin Bet investigator wrote on an official memorandum form after questioning Feldstein that he would check Feldstein's version "from every possible angle," Haaretz has learned. Feldstein has never been questioned about the matter again – neither during his interrogation by the Shin Bet nor during subsequent police questioning.
Feldstein revealed in an interview broadcast this week that the senior official allegedly involved in obstructing the investigation was Netanyahu's chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, who has denied the accusations.
Eli Feldstein, during an interview on public broadcaster Kan 11, on Monday. Credit: A screenshot from Kan 11
Eli Feldstein, during an interview on public broadcaster Kan 11, on Monday. Credit: A screenshot from Kan 11
More than a year after Feldstein first raised the allegation with Shin Bet, police have only now moved to investigate – and are currently awaiting authorization from the State Prosecutor's Office.
Trump: No to recognizing the independence of Somaliland
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he won't follow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recognizing the independence of Somaliland, in an interview with the New York Post.
President Donald Trump on Christmas Eve at the Mar-a-lago club in Florida, U.S., Friday. Credit: Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters
President Donald Trump on Christmas Eve at the Mar-a-lago club in Florida, U.S., Friday. Credit: Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters
"Just say, 'No, comma, not at this -,'" Trump said in a phone interview, before modifying his answer on recognizing Somaliland to: "Just say, 'No.'"
Asked about Somaliland's offer of a U.S. military port, Trump replied, "Big deal."
"Everything is under study," the president added. "We'll study it. I study a lot of things and always make great decisions and they turn out to be correct."
Netanyahu's judges are losing patience with a corruption trial they are helping drag out
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his attorney Amit Hadad, at his trial in Tel Aviv, last week. Credit: Hadas Parush
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his attorney Amit Hadad, at his trial in Tel Aviv, last week. Credit: Hadas Parush
"I think you're confused," Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman told Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Hadad, "and this isn't the first time."
This happened after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's defense attorney opposed the request of the presiding judge to review a certain document, and even declared that, as far as he was concerned, the hearing that had just begun was over.
After an unusually long break, the judges returned to the courtroom and made it clear to Hadad that the next impudent outburst would result in a personal fine. Ultimately, Hadad apologized, but Friedman-Feldman's unusual rebuke came after a long period during the trial in which Netanyahu's attorneys had permitted themselves to interrupt the judges and issue them ultimatums.
The court, for its part, granted almost every one of the Netanyahu defense's requests to cancel hearings, shorten them, or extend breaks, contrary to what is customary in any other legal proceeding. It seems that Hadad's outburst was one step too far.
IDF: Preparing to demolish West Bank house of suspected terrorist who killed two earlier Friday
The Israeli military said it was preparing to demolish the residence of a Palestinian man suspected of killing two and wounding others in northern Israel earlier Friday.
"During the operation, the forces conducted a precise operational search at the residence of the terrorist who carried out the attack," a statement read, noting it was in the West Bank's town of Qabatiyah.
"Shin Bet forces conducted questioning of suspects, and together with soldiers, are currently carrying out a mapping process in preparation for the demolition of the terrorist's residence."
Senior officers had also conducted a security assessment after the attack, which left two additional people wounded.
IDF reservist filmed running over praying Palestinian in West Bank released to house arrest
Screenshot from the footage of an IDF reservist running over a Palestinian on Thursday.
Screenshot from the footage of an IDF reservist running over a Palestinian on Thursday.
An IDF reservist who was filmed running over a Palestinian man praying by the roadside with an ATV in a village in the central West Bank was arrested on Thursday night and released to five days of house arrest, the Israel Police said.
According to the statement, he was barred from entering the village of Deir Jarir and from contacting anyone involved in the incident. Police added that, in coordination with the IDF, they are investigating the sequence of events from Thursday, which also included gunfire inside the village.
Earlier on Thursday, the IDF announced that the soldier's reserve service had been suspended due to the severity of his actions and that his weapon had been confiscated. The army said that before running over the Palestinian with the ATV, he also opened fire at residents "while exceeding his authority." Palestinian reports said masked settlers raided the village, fired shots and hurled stones at residents.
Egypt says Somalia, Djibouti, Turkey condemn Israeli recognition of Somaliland
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls on Friday with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss what they described as dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa following Israel's recognition of Somaliland, Egypt said.
The ministers condemned Israel's recognition of Somaliland, reaffirmed their full support for Somalia's unity and territorial integrity, and warned that recognizing breakaway regions poses a threat to international peace and security, Egypt's foreign ministry said.
Palestinian reports: Settlers attack farmers near Ramallah, wounding seven
Jewish settlers attacked farmers plowing their land near the villages of Deir Dibwan and Ramon, east of Ramallah, Palestinian news outlets reported.
The attackers reportedly opened fire and damaged tractors at the site, leading to clashes that left seven Palestinians and one settler wounded. A military force arrived at the scene.
The Israel Defense Forces has not responded for comment.
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