Citing leak, Netanyahu disbands security cabinet meeting

TEL AVIV (JTA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disbanded a meeting of his security cabinet after information from the previous cabinet meeting was leaked to the press.

Netanyahu ended Wednesday’s meeting early, citing a leak that led to a report in Yediot Aharonot, an Israeli daily, that Tuesday’s security cabinet meeting included conflicting views on the deadline for a possible attack on Iran’s alleged nuclear program.

The security cabinet is made up of 14 government ministers and discusses issues of Israeli national security.

“The security of the state and its citizens depends on the ability to hold confidential and in-depth discussions in the Security Cabinet,” read a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. “There all the facts are shown, all opinions and all implications. This is a basic work tool in managing state security. Yesterday, somebody severely undermined the confidence that Israeli citizens give to this forum.”

The statement did not say when they next meeting would be, nor did it identify the leak.

Yediot’s article on Tuesday reported that Iran is continuing its quest for a nuclear weapon, and that cabinet members differed on when Iran will enter the “zone of immunity,” the point when Iran’s nuclear program becomes impenetrable.

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