Channel 10’s Raviv Drucker sent an investigator to record Givati Brigade Commander, Colonel Ofer Winter with a concealed recording device. Minister of Education Naftali Bennett called this conduct “shocking”.
“The very idea that Channel 10 could send an investigative reporter with concealed recording devices to record the Givati Brigade Commander, a national hero who still protects us, is shocking! I was a company commander. Is it possible to think that someone would record me as I’m speaking to my soldiers? Did we go mad? Do we want to unravel the trust between commanders and those taking orders?” Bennett asked in an Army Radio interview.
Bennett says “this is crossing a red line. The media must tell itself “we don’t record IDF officers becuase the price paid is unraveling trust”. Before the “Grapes of Wrath Campaign” in Gaza, I spoke to my troops. Should I have measured every word because I might have been recorded? Did we go crazy? Do we have another IDF?”
Razi Barkai, the interviewer said”this is a legitimate journalistic procedure”. Bennett strongly disagreed, saying,”The IDF is off limits. You can investigate and check things out but you don’t send someone to a brigade commander with four (!) concealed recording devices. It’s simply not normal!”
“The cost to our national security, to mutual trust and to trust between commander and troops is so great and important that the IDF can’t compromise and unravel these things just for a journalist’s investigative scoop.”
“A journalist’s article is not “The Holy of Holies”, the IDF is!! We must protect our army and I don’t want a situation where commanders must choose their word carefully because perhaps Raviv Drucker or Razi Barkai sent someone with recording devices. Does that sound reasonable? Do you want our commanders to walk on tiptoes?” Asks Bennett.