Gantz’s adviser was behind spying leak –PM

Lapid: Netanyahu has gone off the rails

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Friday that a former Obama adviser and the current campaign adviser for political rival Benny Gantz’s party Blue and White, was behind the Politico story published on Thursday.

Netanyahu said “Joel Benenson, Gantz’s adviser, is behind the false leak about spying against the White House.

Gantz and Lapid would do anything, including harming the strategic asset of Israeli-US relations.”

Blue and White’s Yair Lapid responded on Twitter saying that he supported Netanyahu on CNN when asked about the alleged spying story, and then Netanyahu blamed Blue and White.

“Beyond the lies, where is his national responsibility?” Lapid tweeted. “The man has gone off the rails.”

Benenson, founder and CEO of the Benenson Strategy Group, led the research and polling programs for former president Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns and served as senior strategist for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential bid.

Netanyahu’s accusation comes following a report from Politico that claimed Israel is responsible for cellular tracking devices found near the White House, as well as in several additional locations throughout Washington.

President Donald Trump responded to the report, saying he does not believe “Israel is spying on the US.”

A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy also denied the report, calling them “illogical,” adding that “Israel does not commit acts of espionage in the United States, period.”