Shin Bet investigated officials in Netanyahu's office over leaks

Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, has announced that it has been investigating suspected leaks of sensitive information from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office. According to Radio Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Shin Bet to focus on several officials and senior staff in his office to find the source of leaks to the media.

Officials, including Netanyahu’s national security chief Uzi Arad, Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser and former chief spokesman Nir Hefetz, had to undergo a polygraph test during the process. Hefetz resigned earlier in mysterious circumstances. Sources at Shin Bet said that the investigation hasn’t found evidence of any leaks from within the Prime Minister’s office.

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Radio Israel claims that the investigation was prompted when information about a secret visit made by Netanyahu to Moscow more than a year ago was leaked to the Israeli media. Reports at that time said that he was there to discuss “sensitive security issues” during the visit.