The Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court released on Wednesday the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) official suspected of leaking information to house arrest under full supervision until next week. In doing so, the court rejected the request from the Police Investigation Department (PID) for a 30-day house arrest.

The PID had requested on Wednesday to release A., a Shin Bet official suspected of leaking classified information to journalists and politicians, to house arrest. 

During the hearing, it was revealed that the PID had forgotten to mention in their request that the house arrest conditions would require full 24/7 supervision. The judge reprimanded the PID representative who asked to add the condition. "We don't do re-evaluations in the middle," he said.

Judge Sharon Danieli stated in his decision, "There is a reasonable suspicion of the offenses attributed to him, even in light of his confession. However, in my view, in the overall circumstances of the case, the offense of disclosing classified information (for which he is additionally suspected of violating public employee duties) does not meet the high severity threshold in these circumstances."

The judge continued, "At this point in time, and given the cooperation of the defendant in the investigation and the total circumstances related to his service in the Shin Bet, I do not believe there is grounds for detention due to danger, and the main issue is whether there is a grounds for obstruction." 

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir arrives to a court hearing of the Shin Bet official arrested in suspicion of leaking classified information to a journalist and a Minister at the court in Lod, April 15, 2025. (credit: Jonathan Shaul/Flash90)
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir arrives to a court hearing of the Shin Bet official arrested in suspicion of leaking classified information to a journalist and a Minister at the court in Lod, April 15, 2025. (credit: Jonathan Shaul/Flash90)
The judge further explained, "The grounds for obstruction for the purpose of detention are at the lower threshold. Considering there is no suspicion of other involved parties, the defendant’s confession to the charges, and the fact that he was in optimal investigation conditions in terms of the investigating unit to prevent investigation interference, I found no indication of obstruction of the investigation."

Shin Bet official provided classified information to politician, journalists 

The Shin Bet official who was arrested exploited his security role and the access granted to Shin Bet systems, and provided classified information on several occasions to unauthorized individuals, including journalist Amit Segal and government minister Amichai Chikli, according to the suspicions against him. Due to the severity of the offenses, the suspect was arrested, and initially, a court order was issued to prevent him from meeting with a lawyer, which has since been removed.