Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, has submitted a formal complaint to the Chief Military Censor demanding that Channel 12 face prosecution for what it described as a serious breach of censorship regulations. The complaint was announced in a statement issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, which oversees the security service.
The grievance follows a series of reports published on Sunday by Channel 12 and other Israeli media outlets that claimed the prime minister had traveled to the United Arab Emirates. While the Netanyahu administration has not publicly confirmed the destination, the statement from the prime minister’s office marked the first official acknowledgment that a visit to the Gulf state had taken place.
According to the statement, Shin Bet’s filing seeks the maximum legal penalties permissible under Israeli law. The agency alleged that the broadcast violated established censorship protocols, prompting the request for the Chief Military Censor to intervene and pursue prosecution against the channel.
The incident emerges amid heightened sensitivity surrounding diplomatic engagements between Israel and Gulf nations. Recent normalization agreements have led to increased media scrutiny of high‑level visits, and Israeli authorities have emphasized the need to protect classified information related to security and foreign policy.
Middle East Eye reported the development, noting that the complaint represents the first public acknowledgment by the Israeli government of the prime minister’s presence in the United Arab Emirates, albeit without explicitly naming the country in earlier statements. The outlet highlighted the tension between press freedom and state security considerations that the case underscores.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-security-agency-files-complaint-over-report-netanyahu-visited-uae.