Intel chief, Shin Bet forbidden from discussing Eilat terror attack

Israel's defense establishment on Sunday forbade Director of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi and a senior official from the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) from testifying before a Knesset committee about the terrorist attack near Eilat three weeks ago.

Kochavi presented a letter of exemption from Defense Minister Ehud Barak while the ISA official cited an order from ISA Chief Yoram Cohen. Both Kochavi and the ISA official said they were prohibited from disclosing any intelligence on the Aug. 18 multi-pronged attack in southern Israel's that claimed the lives of eight Israelis, until the IDF completes its internal investigation into the attacks. The Knesset committee that had been preparing to hear their testimony is a secondary intelligence committee of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

In response to the information blackout, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee MK Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) canceled his scheduled meeting with Kochavi, originally set to take place during the committee's general assembly.

"The decision by [Barak and the ISA chief] overtly impedes the secondary committee's ability to act and fulfill its role," Mofaz said.

MK Benjamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) joined Mofaz in his criticism of the move. "It is unfortunate that we are being prevented from fulfilling our duty to the public," he said.

MK Avi Dichter (Kadima) also criticized the move, saying, "The order not to give us information is tantamount to a gag order on the intelligence and ISA chiefs."

Following the defense establishment's instructions to keep quiet on the attack, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud) said he would arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Barak, and Mofaz to "define the secondary committee's boundaries and the Knesset's authority to supervise the defense establishment."

The Defense Ministry on Sunday issued a statement in defense of its move, saying, "We are dismayed that MK Shaul Mofaz is trying once again to turn the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the secondary committees into part of a political game meant to boost his image in his personal quarrels."

"Intelligence and operational briefings of current events are first given to the operating units and then to the intelligence bodies. The results are given to the chief of general staff and then the secondary committees in Knesset," the statement said.

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