{"id":55776,"date":"2026-01-11T05:28:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T10:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/netanyahus-chief-of-staff-detained-for-questioning-by-investigators-over-bild-leaked-documents\/11\/01\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T05:28:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T10:28:40","slug":"netanyahus-chief-of-staff-detained-for-questioning-by-investigators-over-bild-leaked-documents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/netanyahus-chief-of-staff-detained-for-questioning-by-investigators-over-bild-leaked-documents\/11\/01\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Netanyahu\u2019s chief of staff detained for questioning by investigators over Bild leaked documents"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Tzachi Braverman, who was approved as an ambassadorial candidate to the UK, was detained by police for questioning on suspicion of obstruction of justice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Tzachi Braverman, chief of staff in the Prime Minister\u2019s Office and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s ambassador nominee to the United Kingdom, was detained for questioning by the Lahav 433 National Crime Unit on Sunday morning, police announced, following reports linking the questioning to the leaked documents (\u201cBild\u201d) affair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In September 2024, a classified Israeli military intelligence document outlining Hamas\u2019s stance on hostage negotiations was leaked to the German tabloid Bild, where it was published as evidence that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/conferences\/article-882750\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Hamas;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Hamas<\/a> was less interested in a ceasefire or hostage deal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The publication appeared to reinforce Netanyahu\u2019s public argument that only further military pressure would secure the hostages\u2019 release.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/wake-feldstein-interview-opposition-mk-135018345.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Eli Feldstein;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Eli Feldstein<\/a>, a former spokesman for the PMO, was arrested and indicted in the so-called Bild leak scandal, charged with passing and holding classified information and obstruction of justice, along with other suspects, including a reservist military intelligence source who provided the document.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In a lengthy interview aired on KAN late last month, Feldstein provided new, more detailed allegations about the internal dynamics of the case. He claimed that Netanyahu was fully aware of and supportive of efforts to use the classified document to shape public opinion, contradicting official denials that the prime minister learned of the leak only through the media.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Eli Feldstein, one of the suspects in the so-called Qatargate investigation arrives for a court hearing at the Tel Aviv District Court on July 15, 2025. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI\/FLASH90)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">The Bild affair is one of two probes involving Netanyahu\u2019s aides<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Feldstein described pressure from senior aides to suppress early scrutiny, including an incident where Braverman allegedly suggested that he could \u201cshut down\u201d the ongoing investigation into the leak &#8211; allegations Braverman and the PMO strongly deny.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Haaretz noted that Feldstein made similar claims in his interrogations and reported that his interrogator even made a note to investigate and try to corroborate Feldstein\u2019s claims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The former PMO spokesman told KAN that Braverman summoned him to a meeting in an underground parking lot at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv and asked him to leave his cell phone behind.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">According to Feldstein, during a conversation in a car, Braverman warned that the IDF\u2019s information security unit had opened an investigation that extended to the Prime Minister\u2019s Office, and named several individuals who later emerged as suspects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Feldstein\u2019s account has reignited public controversy and contributed to other criminal inquiries, including a separate police probe into whether Braverman tried to interfere with the investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Overlapping with the Bild leak case is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/urich-challenges-police-bid-extend-122811838.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Qatargate;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Qatargate<\/a> scandal, which centers on allegations that senior Netanyahu aides &#8211; including Feldstein and Yonatan Urich &#8211; were paid by agents connected to Qatar to disseminate pro-Qatari messaging and influence media narratives during the Israel\u2013Hamas war, at a time when Qatar was mediating hostage negotiations despite its links to Hamas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/shin-bet-arrests-15-old-125257911.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency);elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency)<\/a> and Israel Police investigated suspected contact with a foreign agent, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering, and by now the police have completed much of the probe and handed the file to the prosecution for review; court decisions have extended certain employment and detention restrictions on Urich.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">These two scandals intersect because Feldstein was also a suspect in Qatargate, and his recent extensive interview on Kan amplified elements of both.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Following Braverman\u2019s questioning, the Movement for Quality Government called for the immediate suspension of his appointment as ambassador, arguing that anyone under investigation for suspected involvement in the leak of classified documents and for obstruction of justice cannot hold such a sensitive post that requires full public trust.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Opposition head and Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid later echoed the sentiment, calling for the immediate suspension of Braverman\u2019s appointment, saying it was \u201cuntenable\u201d for someone suspected of involvement in obstructing a serious security investigation to represent Israel in one of Europe\u2019s most important countries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/netanyahu-chief-staff-detained-questioning-082729183.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tzachi Braverman, who was approved as an ambassadorial candidate to the UK, was detained by police for questioning on suspicion of obstruction<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/netanyahus-chief-of-staff-detained-for-questioning-by-investigators-over-bild-leaked-documents\/11\/01\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":55777,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/en\/jerusalem_post_articles_818\/68ec55ae78c687ee57474eca18873d9f","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55776"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55776"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55776\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}