An indicted former aide to Prime Minister Netanyahu accused Tzachi Braverman of promising to quash the inquiry into his alleged release of classified material to the media
January 12, 2026 11:47
The appointment of Israel's new representative in London may be delayed after the incoming ambassador was reportedly banned from leaving the country.
Tzachi Braverman, yet to take up his new role after being appointed in September and currently chief of staff to Prime Minister Netanyahu, was questioned by police in relation to an investigation into the alleged leaking of classified material to the press, according to widespread reports in Hebrew media.
Former Netanyahu aide Eli Feldstein was arrested in October 2024 and charged with passing sensitive information to Bild, a German tabloid.
He is accused of leaking an internal Hamas memo, obtained by the IDF and classified to protect its source, that suggested the terror group was not interested in agreeing to a deal to return hostages.
Prosecutors allege that this was done in order to ease public backlash against the government in the wake of the execution of six hostages by their captors in Rafah last August after IDF troops approached the area where they were held.
However, in his first TV interview since his arrest, Feldstein claimed that Netanyahu himself was aware of the plan to utilise confidential material - a claim Netanyahu has denied as politically-motivated fabrication.
And Feldstein also accused Braverman of offering to quash the investigation into the leak, which had not been publicly announced at the time of their alleged interaction.
Police announced on Sunday that a former prime ministerial aide had been arrested on suspicion of "obstructing investigative procedures".
While they did not name Braverman, it has since been widely reported that he was detained and that his home was searched.
He was released on restrictive conditions, including a 30-day ban on leaving the country, which he has since appeared in court to challenge
Per Ynet, this could delay his entry to the UK after being confirmed as the replacement for Tzipi Hotovely, who departed the post in September.
Filing an appeal against his bail conditions at the Rishon Lezion District Court, Braverman denounced the police investigation as "delusional" and "political".
"The bail conditions are extreme, unusual, and clearly disproportionate," his lawyers told the court.
And, responding to Feldstein's interview in December, Braverman's office accused the former aide of "lying and making things up".
"The chief of staff has no ability or influence over ongoing investigations. Braverman only knew about the investigation when it was published by the media," a spokesperson added.
A spokesperson for Netanyahu said: "[The prime minister] never gave Feldstein an order - either directly or indirectly - to leak classified intelligence. He did not authorise the circumvention of the military censor… nor was he involved in any illegal act.
"After months of persecution by the Attorney General’s Office and the Shin Bet against Feldstein, it is no wonder that he is willing to say anything the Left wants, including fabricating claims against the prime minister."
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