Eli Feldstein

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Eli Feldstein
אלי פלדשטיין
Eli Feldstein, December 2021 (cropped).jpg
Born
Eli Feldstein

1992 (age 32–33)
Petah Tikva, Israel
Alma mater Yeshiva Or Israel  [ he ]
Occupation Spokesperson
Years active2014–present

Eliezer "Eli" Feldstein (Hebrew : אלי פלדשטיין; born about 1992) is Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman for military affairs. He was interrogated and arrested in November 2024 on suspicion of security offenses during the Gaza war, and in March 2025 he was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the Qatari connection affair. [1]

Contents

Biography

Feldstein is a graduate of Yeshiva Or Israel  [ he ] in Petach Tikva, a Haredi-Litvaks yeshiva. In June 2014, he enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and served as the spokesperson of the Personnel Directorate, where he was responsible for liaison with Haredi media. [2] In July 2016, he completed an officers course and was appointed chief of staff to the head of the Planning Division in the Planning Directorate. In June 2017, he was appointed operations officer for the IDF Spokesman's Office. [3]

In July 2019, he was appointed spokesman for the Judea and Samaria Division, [4] being relieved from regular service with the rank of captain. In December 2022, he was appointed spokesman for the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, [5] until he resigned in April 2023. [6]

In October 2023, on the fourth day of the Israel–Hamas war, he was appointed the spokesman for military affairs for the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, entrusted with the connection between military correspondents and the Bureau of Netanyahu. [7] He failed a security investigation conducted by the Shin Bet and was not officially employed by Netanyahu's office. [8]

Feldstein was arrested on 27 October 2024 and charged with "transferring classified information with the intent to harm the state", "illicit possession of classified information" and "obstruction of justice." [9] Another suspect (later identified as Ari Rosenfeld), [10] has said that he passed the information on to Feldstein to inform the prime minister. [11]

Feldstein's identity was revealed on 3 November 2024 after a gag order was lifted by the Rishon LeZion district court. [12] On 13 November 2024, the court extended Feldstein's detention until 17 November 2024, allowing him to meet with a lawyer. [13] Feldstein was indicted on 21 November on charges of transferring and holding classified information, as well as "obstruction of justice." [9] Alex Stein of the High Court of Justice ruled on 9 December 2024 that Feldstein could be released to house arrest. [14]

In March 2025, an Israeli businessman, Gil Birger, moved money from Jay Footlik to Feldstein, as Feldstein's salary in the Office of the Prime Minister, bypassing the Israeli income tax law. [15] [16]

He was arrested in March 2025 for suspected involvement in the Qatari connection affair. Netanyahu has described Feldstein and his other aide Jonatan Urich as "being held hostage" following their arrests. [17] The details were under a court-imposed gag order, but the group in charge of Urich's defense requested that the order be lifted, which was granted on 1 April. [18]

Feldstein was released to house arrest on 4 April 2025. [19] He is suspected of multiple offenses. [20] [21] Feldstein was interrogated at the Lahav 433 offices in August 2025. [22]

References

  1. ↑ Sharon, Jeremy; Summers, Charlie (31 March 2025). "Netanyahu testifies in Qatargate probe after police summons, as top aides arrested". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  2. ↑ שלזינגר, אלי (13 July 2016). "הדובר החרדי של צה"ל אלי פלדשטיין קיבל דרגות קצונה". בחדרי חרדים (in Hebrew). Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  3. ↑ שלזינגר, אלי (26 June 2017). "לראשונה קצין חרדי יפקד על המידע המבצעי בזמן אמת של צהל". בחדרי חרדים (in Hebrew). Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  4. ↑ שלזינגר, אלי (29 July 2019). "בוגר הישיבה המפורסמת קודם משמעותית בצה"ל". בחדרי חרדים (in Hebrew). Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  5. ↑ "7 ברנז'ה: מדובר צה"ל ללשכת השר איתמר בן גביר" (in Hebrew). Arutz Sheva. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  6. ↑ מערכת, וואלה חדשות (20 April 2023). "ארבעה חודשים בלבד הספיקו: דוברו של איתמר בן גביר התפטר" (in Hebrew). Walla! Communications Ltd. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  7. ↑ האוזר טוב, מיכאל. "נתניהו מינה דובר שיתקשר עם הכתבים הצבאיים; מקורות ביטחוניים מאשימים: "הוא בקמפיין"" (in Hebrew). No. 21 October 2023. Haaretz. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  8. ↑ Ravid, Barak (1 November 2024). "Classified leaks by detained Netanyahu aide may have undermined hostage operations". Axios. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Netanyahu aide charged with harming state security in leaked document case, could face life term". The Times of Israel . 21 November 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Isaac, David (24 December 2024). "Second suspect in leak affair identified as Ari Rosenfeld". Jewish News Syndicate . Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  11. ↑ Fink, Rachel. "New Evidence Reveals Netanyahu's Relentless Efforts to Block Hostage Deal, Report Shows". Haaretz. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  12. ↑ Lidor, Canaan (4 November 2024). "Israeli court reveals identity of intel leak suspect". Jewish News Syndicate . Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  13. ↑ גליקמן, אביעד (13 November 2024). "הפרשה הביטחונית: מעצרו של אלי פלדשטיין הוארך עד יום ראשון". Channel 13 News. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  14. ↑ Breuer, Eliav (9 December 2024). "Feldstein to be released to house arrest, Supreme Court rules". The Jerusalem Post . Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  15. ↑ i24NEWS (31 March 2025). "Eli Feldstein, Yonatan Urich arrested in 'Qatar-Gate' affair". i24NEWS . Retrieved 1 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ Ynet (19 March 2025). "'Qatargate': Israeli businessman says he transferred money from Qatar lobbyist to Netanyahu spokesperson". Ynetnews . Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  17. ↑ Sharon, Jeremy; Summers, Charlie (1 April 2025). "Netanyahu says his two aides 'being held hostage' in Qatargate 'witch hunt'". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  18. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah; Writer, Staff (1 April 2025). "'Improve Qatar's image, belittle Egypt': Suspicions against Urich, Feldstein revealed". The Jerusalem Post . Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  19. ↑ Bandel, Netael (4 April 2025). "Court orders Netanyahu aides to house arrest in Qatargate probe, slams police conduct". Ynetnews. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  20. ↑ ToI Staff. "Court orders release of Netanyahu's aides to house arrest; police ask for delay". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  21. ↑ "Urich and Feldstein to be released to house arrest after judge rejects request to extend remand; police lodge appeal". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  22. ↑ Writer, Staff (12 August 2025). "Eli Feldstein interrogated in Lahav 433 in connection to Qatargate investigations". The Jerusalem Post . Retrieved 12 August 2025.
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