IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Avichai Ronsky was removed from his position by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz after it was learned he gave classified information to Economy Minister Naftali Bennett.

A report appearing in the daily Maariv states that it was clear Bennett was receiving information from a source, information that he used during Operation Protective Edge to criticize IDF operations during cabinet sessions. Bennett had information pertaining to the Hamas tunnels and the IDF’s handling of the terror tunnel network.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon instructed the IDF Chief of Staff to launch an investigation to determine who was leaking classified information to the minister. After learning the identity of the senior officer, he was removed from the reserve duty roster ending his IDF service. While Bennett is a member of the Security Cabinet he is not permitted to receive classified information as he did.

When asked to comment, Bennett’s staff released the following statement. “The anonymous smear campaign by political and defense sources are chutzpah. Minister Bennett is proud of his actions that led to the operation against the tunnels and thereby saving lives.

Channel 2 reports that Ronsky was already discharged from service but during Operation Protective Edge he put on his uniform and appeared at command centers and took part in meetings which provided information that he allegedly passed to Bennett. When relevant officials gained knowledge of this, they requested that Ronsky leave the area during the ongoing military operation. He was instructed to refrain from entering closed briefings and he is not expected to appear in uniform again.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)