Ex-Mossad Official Linked to Feldstein in Security Leak Probe
Former Mossad official David Saig was arrested after Shin Bet investigations linked him to Prime Minister spokesperson Eli Feldstein in coordinating media narratives involving Egypt and Qatar.
A former Mossad senior official, 73-year-old David Saig, was arrested in April 2025 following an investigation by the Shin Bet and police into the leaked documents scandal. Saig allegedly collaborated with Eli Feldstein, the spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to channel pro-Qatari and anti-Egyptian messaging to Israeli journalists, including Nir Dvori and Suleiman Maswada.
According to Shin Bet interrogation transcripts, Saig was introduced to Feldstein through Gil Birger to brief journalists under the guise of a security establishment source. Saig admitted to coordinating media messaging regarding the Philadelphi Corridor and Egyptian involvement in arms smuggling, while remaining unaware that Feldstein was closely tied to the prime minister's office during their operations in early 2024.
Interrogation and Media Briefings
Saig acknowledged speaking with reporters to express his personal views regarding Qatari and Egyptian leverage, yet noted that his talking points aligned with coordinated campaigns. During the investigation, interrogators confronted Saig with WhatsApp exchanges showing Feldstein editing his statements and boasting about shaping public consciousness after a report aired on Channel 12.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed discussions surrounding sensitive information regarding hostages, including details about a video of Hersh Goldberg-Polin z"l obtained from Qatari intermediaries. Saig stated he urged reporters not to publish the sensitive details to protect the hostages, despite prior meetings with Qatari officials alongside journalists Gili Cohen and Jonathan Lis.
Legal Defense and Denials
Saig maintained during questioning that he considered himself an independent analyst rather than a senior official involved in ongoing negotiations, stating he simply used common sense. His defense attorney, Uri Ben-Asher, emphasized that Saig is a law-abiding citizen whose conduct was unblemished, declining to address classified investigative materials in detail.
