Israel’s newly appointed ambassador to Britain, Tzachi Braverman, finds himself unable to assume his diplomatic post after being detained and questioned by Israeli police regarding allegations of obstructing an investigation into a classified military document leak. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, has triggered significant political repercussions and legal challenges.
Braverman, who also serves as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff, faces accusations related to the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information during the September 2024 Gaza conflict. The leaked document, purportedly from Hamas, suggested the group’s reluctance to release Israeli captives and end hostilities. Critics allege the leak was strategically timed to bolster public support for Netanyahu’s negotiation stance.
The investigation took a dramatic turn when former Netanyahu spokesman Eliezer Feldstein publicly claimed that Braverman had offered to ‘shut down’ the leak inquiry in 2024. Both Braverman and the Prime Minister’s office have vehemently denied these allegations, counter-accusing Feldstein of fabrication.
Following his release after a day of interrogation, Braverman was subjected to stringent restrictions including a 30-day travel ban preventing his departure to Britain and prohibitions on contacting officials at the Prime Minister’s office. His legal team has filed an appeal against these conditions, describing them as ‘extreme and exceptional’ given his imminent ambassadorial assignment.
The political fallout has been immediate and divisive. Netanyahu’s Likud party decried the police action as a ‘persecution campaign’ against the prime minister and his associates. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has called for suspending Braverman’s diplomatic appointment, while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar cautioned against prejudicial actions that might violate fundamental rights to fair trial.
This incident marks the second time Braverman has faced police questioning, having been investigated previously for allegedly altering timestamps related to Netanyahu’s initial response instructions during the October 2023 Hamas attack. The ambassador-designate’s predicament leaves Israel without representation in London following the conclusion of Tzipi Hotovely’s term in September.