A former top IDF military secretary said that Breaking the Silence lies, but that the government must learn to deal with these groups in a better manner. PHOTO: Arik Sultan/NRG.

IDF Maj. Gen. (res.) Eitan Dangot, who has served as the military secretary for three Israeli defense ministers over the years, accused a group of non-governmental organizations of lying about, and causing harm to, the Jewish state, Israeli news site NRG reported on Friday.

Dangot made his comments during a lengthy interview with NRG in which he addressed the activities of NGOs including Breaking the Silence and Gisha, which advocates for the removal of all restrictions on movement for Palestinians.

Dangot said that these organizations, “publish partial testimonies and baseless findings,” and in doing so, “are causing harm to the State.”

The military leader added that, “when the truth is finally revealed — and in many cases the truthful version turns out to be completely different than what was initially published — it is no longer interesting and the harm has already been done.”

Dangot also addressed the government’s response to such organizations, saying that, “It is unfortunate that Israeli officials are responding to this in a reckless manner. We cannot shut the door in the face of such organizations, and we must continue and conduct open dialogue, that is frank and truthful, with facts, against such international initiatives.”

Dangot himself, in his capacity as the Coordinator of Governmental Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has gone to meet with the representatives of such organizations. “To my knowledge, we listen to them even today. There were instances in which I learned from the mutual and direct dialogue with them about things that were not correct and needed correction.”

In other cases, Dangot said that there were organizations with which meeting was unnecessary because the IDF realized that, “they had personal agendas and internal hatred.”

Dangot concluded: “We are not perfect, and there are things that we can and must learn from them. And beyond that, when you demonstrate that you are responding you are able to influence the other side to be less hostile and to listen to you, and allow for different perspectives in the dialogue.”