'Netnayahu asked to probe Iranian attack leak'

Kuwait's al Jarida quotes Israeli sources claiming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Shin Bet chief to investigate source of leak on alleged plan to attack Iranian nuclear facilities. Paper says Meir Dagan, Yuval Diskin allegedly behind leak

Reuters | Published: 11.03.11, 13:53

Kuwaiti newspaper al Jarida on Thursday quoted Israeli sources who claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Shin Bet Chief Yoram Cohen to investigate the source who leaked to the press Israel's alleged plan to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.

The sources claimed former Mossad chief Meir Dagan and former Shin bet head Yuval Diskin were behind the leak, and gave Israeli reporters "information that is mostly wrong in order to undermine Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak."

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According to the report, the two were disgruntled with the government, after Diskin was not appointed as head of Mossad following his retirement from the Shin Bet, and Dagan asked to stay in this position but was turned down by Netanyahu and Barak.

PM Netanyahu. Who leaked? (Photo: Reuters) (צילום: רויטרס)

The Israeli sources were quoted by the newspaper as saying that the media, along with senior politicians, including Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, launched a political campaign against the prime minister and defense minister, accusing them of "gambling on the national interest."

The report further claimed that according to Israeli political and security officials. The dispute between the military and the government over a possible strike in Iran was leaked to the press in an effort to dissuade Netanyahu and Barak from launching the attack.

"The preparations and exercises went from the consideration stage to the implementation stage," the paper a Jerusalem official as saying. "Therefore, those who oppose the plan within the security establishment decided to leak it to the media and thwart the plan."