Israel’s UK ambassadorial pick faces pre-indictment hearing
Tzachi Braverman faces possible charges of fraud, obstruction of justice and breach of trust
Benjamin Netanyahu’s chosen replacement as ambassador to the UK appears to be even less likely to take up his position, after Israeli media reports that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara intends to indict him on charges of fraud, obstruction of justice and breach of trust, pending a hearing.
Israel’s State Attorney’s office announced on Tuesday that it was summoning Tzachi Braverman, who previously served as Netanyahu’s chief of staff, for such a hearing. Braverman was first arrested in January in connection to his alleged involvement in attempts to cover up a serious security breach, after top secret intelligence information was passed to the German Bild tabloid from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office.
Prosecutors have alleged that soon after Braverman was made aware of the breach, he organised a meeting with Eli Feldstein, then Netanyahu’s media advisor, in the latter’s vehicle, which was in the car park of the Kirya, the IDF’s headquarters.
Braverman allegedly read Feldstein a number of names and asked the media officer whether he knew any of them, after which Braverman allegedly asked Feldstein: “Is this connected to you? Is this connected to us? Because if so, I can shut it down.”
Feldstein reportedly denied any connection. Shortly after the meeting, he was arrested, and later indicted on charges of transferring classified documentation. The leak of the information to Bild came at a time when Netanyahu was seeking to maintain continued military pressure on Hamas.
Lawyers for Braverman have attempted to cast doubt on the veracity of Feldstein’s testimony.
In April, Haaretz reported that Braverman had been accused of sexual offences against a woman, who provided evidence to the police but refused to file an official complaint over fears of potential retribution. Braverman is understood to have privately described this as an attempt to blackmail him.
The date of Braverman’s pre-indictment hearing has yet to be announced.
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