Gil Messing, who was tapped to become the next IDF spokesman, announced on Sunday that he will not be serving in the post, sending a letter to this effect to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Aviv Kochavi.

In his letter he writes, “I accepted the role of the IDF Spokesperson, which was offered to me, even though on the professional and personal level I lacked nothing, and I had professional satisfaction and economic well-being in a global promotion track.

“A wild dance of demons full of lies and manipulations that tried to hurt my good name and prevent the appointment began. I was unable and unwilling to stand against these attempts to harm me, my family, the Chief of Staff and the IDF Spokesman’s Office, just because I agreed to take on a state role…”.

The letter concludes “I therefore ask you to cancel the appointment and allow me to return to the diverse and empowering life I love very much as part of my work at Checkpoint, and to provide my wife and children with the peaceful family life they deserve. I am certain that I will continue to find ways to express my love for the IDF and for this country. ”

The daily Haaretz reported that Messing was recruited as an undercover agent for police during the undercover investigation against Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party, as YWN-Israel reported. If Avigdor Lieberman becomes Defense Minister once again, as is likely, he is likely to cancel the appointment, perhaps leading to Messing’s decision to decline the appointment.

The IDF tweeted IDF Chief Aviv Kochavi accepted his decision with sorrow, wishing him success in the private sector, expressing understanding for the decision.

הרמטכ״ל הוסיף שניסיונו הרב ויכולותיו של מר מסינג יכלו לתרום רבות לצה״ל ולמערך הדוברות וכי הוא מקווה שגם בעתיד ימשיך מר מסינג ויתרום מניסיונו ומקצועיותו לצה״ל.

הרמטכ״ל הודה למר מסינג על נכונותו להתייצב לשירות צה״ל והמדינה, ואיחל לו הצלחה רבה.

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) May 12, 2019

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)