{"id":59566,"date":"2026-05-26T08:09:53","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T12:09:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/pmo-chief-of-staff-braverman-summoned-for-pre-indictment-hearing\/26\/05\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T08:09:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T12:09:53","slug":"pmo-chief-of-staff-braverman-summoned-for-pre-indictment-hearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/pmo-chief-of-staff-braverman-summoned-for-pre-indictment-hearing\/26\/05\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"PMO chief-of-staff Braverman summoned for pre-indictment hearing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">At the heart of the matter, for which the prosecution is considering bringing criminal charges against him, is the &#8220;midnight meeting&#8221; affair, a sub-chapter in the larger &#8220;Bild&#8221; and &#8220;Qatargate&#8221; cases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Tzachi Braverman, the Prime Minister\u2019s Office chief of staff and ambassador-designate to the United Kingdom, will be summoned for a pre-indictment hearing on suspicion of fraud and breach of trust and obstruction of justice, the State Attorney\u2019s Office announced on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Aisman are considering indicting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/tags\/tzachi-braverman\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Braverman;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Braverman&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Braverman<\/a>, pending a hearing, over his alleged conduct after learning in October 2024 that a covert investigation was underway into the leak of highly classified intelligence to the German daily <em>Bild<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Braverman\u2019s attorneys, Jacques Chen and Prof. Yaniv Vaki, called the decision \u201cwrong\u201d and said it \u201ccontinues the enormous injustice already caused to Mr. Braverman.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe letter of suspicion itself makes clear that the decision rests on Feldstein\u2019s testimony,\u201d they said. \u201cFeldstein is a dishonest witness driven by ulterior motives. It is astonishing that the prosecution &#8211; which itself indicted him while rejecting his many baseless accounts and false claims &#8211; is now relying on him as a credible witness, even though here too he gave multiple contradictory and false versions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">According to the prosecution, Braverman learned, as part of his role, that authorities were secretly investigating the transfer of a raw intelligence item classified as top secret and intended for a limited circle of those with clearance. The intelligence, which was obtained through a classified intelligence tool, was later passed to <em>Bild<\/em>, where a significant portion of it and partial quotes from it were published.<\/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-primary 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-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/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-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Prime Minister&#8217;s Office Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman pictured at Tel Aviv District Court, December 18, 2024; illustrative. (credit: MIRIAM ALSTER\/FLASH90)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Shortly after learning of the investigation, Braverman allegedly asked Eli Feldstein, who served as a media adviser to Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/politics\/articles\/netanyahu-admitted-hadassah-ein-kerem-222224926.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Benjamin Netanyahu;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Benjamin Netanyahu&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a>, to urgently meet him at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The two met in the middle of the night in Feldstein\u2019s car in the Kirya parking lot, according to the prosecution. Braverman allegedly read Feldstein several names written on a piece of paper, including that of IDF reservist Ari Rosenfeld, and asked Feldstein whether he knew any of them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Braverman then allegedly told Feldstein that an investigation was underway and asked him: \u201cIs this connected to you? Is this connected to us? Because if so, I can shut it down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Feldstein denied any connection, and the two parted ways, the prosecution said.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Leaked article published days after hostage bodies recovered<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The <em>Bild<\/em> article was published on September 6, 2024, days after the bodies of six Israeli hostages murdered by Hamas in Gaza were recovered: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, and Alex Lobanov.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Public anger was high at the time, and the document appeared to support Netanyahu\u2019s argument that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/international\/islamic-terrorism\/article-897262\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Hamas;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Hamas&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Hamas<\/a> was hardening its position in hostage negotiations, narrowing the case for diplomacy and bolstering the argument for continued military pressure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The investigation later became public with the arrests of Feldstein and Rosenfeld, who were eventually indicted in what became known as the classified-documents case, or <em>Bild<\/em> case. The indictment accuses Rosenfeld of passing the secret intelligence to Feldstein, and Feldstein of working with others to transfer it for publication in <em>Bild<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The case has since moved through several court tracks, including litigation over detention conditions, access to investigative materials and the scope of the proceedings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The affair has also widened around Netanyahu\u2019s circle. Urich was summoned to a pre-indictment hearing in the <em>Bild<\/em> affair, with prosecutors considering security offenses related to the alleged handling of classified material. Courts have repeatedly imposed, extended and later eased restrictive conditions on him, including bans connected to work at the PMO, contact with figures tied to the investigation and travel abroad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Braverman branch developed later, after Feldstein\u2019s televised interview led investigators to examine the alleged midnight meeting. Parts of the affair were later cleared for publication, revealing the suspicion that Braverman had used information he obtained through his official role after learning of the covert investigation.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Qatargate case unfolding alongside Bild leak affair<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Braverman affair is one branch of the broader classified-documents scandal that has surrounded Netanyahu\u2019s aides. It has also unfolded alongside the separate but overlapping \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/tags\/qatargate\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Qatargate;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Qatargate&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Qatargate<\/a>\u201d investigation, in which Feldstein and Netanyahu adviser Yonatan Urich were arrested in March 2025 on suspicion of security and financial offenses connected to alleged work on behalf of Qatar while they were close to the Prime Minister\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">That case centers on suspicions that Netanyahu aides promoted Qatari interests in Israel while Qatar was serving as a central mediator in hostage negotiations. Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing and has not been named as a suspect.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Braverman has consistently denied wrongdoing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/politics\/articles\/midnight-meeting-affair-pmo-chief-114934454.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the heart of the matter, for which the prosecution is considering bringing criminal charges against him, is the &ldquo;midnight meeting&rdquo; affair,<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/pmo-chief-of-staff-braverman-summoned-for-pre-indictment-hearing\/26\/05\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":59567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/en\/jerusalem_post_articles_818\/22343ee1c242c2c42ba18141affded58","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59566"}],"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=59566"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59566\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}