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Police: evidentiary basis found against Minister Eli Cohen in diplomatic passport affair

The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
Police: evidentiary basis found against Minister Eli Cohen in diplomatic passport affair

Primary source Internal intake · 4 reviewed intake signals · Desk window 11:45

TL;DR

Israel Police have established an evidentiary basis against MK Eli Cohen in the diplomatic passports probe, according to a statement. The case has been referred to the state prosecution for a decision on whether to file an indictment.

01 · THE DISPATCH

Israel Police announced Wednesday that investigators have established an evidentiary basis against former Foreign Minister MK Eli Cohen (Likud) and other ministry officials in the diplomatic passport affair, according to a police statement. Cohen is suspected of issuing diplomatic passports to various individuals based on improper considerations, a breach of trust offense. The Lahav 433 National Fraud Investigation Unit initiated the probe in January 2024 with the approval of the Attorney General. After completing all investigation actions, Lahav 433 chief Superintendent Manny Binyamin signed off on the case summary, which was then approved by Investigations and Intelligence Division head Superintendent Boaz Balt, who ordered the file sent to the State Attorney's Office for review and decision on potential indictment. The Tax and Economics Division of the State Attorney's Office has accompanied the investigation throughout. As The Zioneer reported at 11:42, the police confirmed the probe's conclusion and the transfer for a prosecutorial decision. The case now awaits a decision by State Attorney Amit Aisman's office on whether to file charges.

02 · How it developed

7 developments

  1. Latest

    Police found an evidentiary basis for charges and referred case to prosecutors

  2. Investigation concluded and case file forwarded to the State Attorney's Office.

  3. Police confirm evidentiary basis exists for potential indictment

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03 · Source and signal

Source and signal

  • Internal intake
Desk accountability

This dispatch is published under The Zioneer Intelligence Desk. Raw intake channels remain internal provenance; an external outlet or channel is named only when it materially helps readers evaluate a specific claim.