The Israeli foreign intelligence service Mossad called “false and unfounded” a publication in the New York Times, which, referring to secret US documents, said that Israeli intelligence officials called on employees and citizens to participate in protests against the judicial reform of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
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“Tonight’s publication in the American press tonight is completely false and unfounded. The Mossad and its leadership did not and do not encourage employees of the organization to participate in anti-government demonstrations, political demonstrations in general, or any political activity. The Mossad and its leadership did not deal with the issue of demonstrations and remained true to the values of statehood that have guided the Mossad since its founding,” the Israeli prime minister’s office said in an intelligence report.
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Earlier, the New York Times reported that a new batch of secret US documents about Ukraine, China and the Middle East allegedly leaked to the network. According to the publication, more than 100 documents could have got on the Internet, the damage from the incident is estimated as significant. The Pentagon has already said that they are studying information about the leak.
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Among the revelations contained in the leaked Pentagon documents was the allegation that the Mossad leadership encouraged agency personnel and Israeli citizens to participate in the nationwide anti-government protests that have been going on in Israel for more than three months.
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At the end of March, Netanyahu announced the suspension of the legislative process on judicial reform in order to negotiate and reach a compromise with opponents. This decision was taken against the backdrop of spontaneous protests across the country. Despite the suspension of reform, activists on both sides continue to take to the streets in Israel’s major cities.
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The reform proposed by the government will limit the influence of the Supreme Court on the process of adopting basic laws, will allow parliamentarians to challenge the decisions of this court, and will give the government control over the procedure for appointing judges, opponents of the reform fear.
