Court extends travel ban on Braverman during investigation into alleged 'midnight meeting'

The Rishon Lezion Magistrates Court has extended the travel ban on Tzachi Braverman, Israel's Chief of Staff, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged obstruction of justice. Braverman is accused of interfering with a sensitive probe after a late-night meeting regarding classified information. The ban remains in effect until February 10.

The Rishon Lezion Magistrates Court has decided to extend the travel restrictions imposed on Tzachi Braverman, who currently serves as the Chief of Staff to the Israeli Prime Minister and has been appointed as Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom. This decision comes after warnings from the police, indicating that allowing Braverman to leave the country could interfere with an ongoing investigation into allegations of obstruction of justice.

Court Orders Restrictions to Stay in Place

On Thursday, President Judge Menahem Mizrahi ruled that Braverman must remain within Israel until February 10. The court also confirmed that Braverman is prohibited from entering the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) or contacting individuals linked to the case, including the Prime Minister, until the same date.

Allegations Against Braverman

Braverman is facing allegations of several offenses, which include:

• Obstructing an investigation
• Improperly conveying official information
• Fraud and breach of trust

These allegations stem from claims made by Eli Feldstein, a former spokesperson for the Prime Minister, regarding a late-night meeting with Braverman.

Details of the Alleged Meeting

According to Feldstein, the meeting took place in an underground parking lot at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, shortly before he was detained for questioning. Feldstein stated during a KAN interview that Braverman informed him of a sensitive investigation, revealed the names of those involved, and suggested that he could halt the investigation. Additionally, Feldstein claimed that Braverman showed him a list of individuals allegedly connected to the probe.

Police Statement at the Hearing

At the Thursday court hearing, police representative Gil Racklin told the court that significant investigative steps had been completed since the last hearing, but further actions were still required. Racklin argued that Braverman's continued presence in Israel is crucial for the investigation, stating: "If he leaves the country, our ability to summon him will be significantly reduced. The remaining investigative actions require his immediate availability." Judge Mizrahi agreed with the police and decided to extend the restrictions, emphasizing the need to balance investigative requirements with individual rights.

Expansion of the No-Contact Order

The court has expanded the no-contact order to include three officials from the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) who have already given open testimony. This order adds to the existing prohibition, which prevents Braverman from contacting senior PMO officials, military aides, spokespeople, chiefs of staff, and administrative personnel until February 10.

Defense's Position

Braverman's attorney, Jacques Chen, argued that the travel ban is a disproportionate restriction on Braverman's freedom of movement. He stated that the police could carry out their investigative steps without preventing Braverman from leaving Israel. Braverman, who has been appointed Israel's ambassador to the UK but has not yet assumed the position, claimed that the restrictions harm Israel's diplomatic interests. The police, however, countered that if Braverman travels abroad, especially in a formal diplomatic capacity, his accessibility for questioning would be significantly reduced. Chen responded by claiming that Braverman could return to Israel within hours if needed.

Related Investigations

The ongoing investigation into Braverman is being conducted alongside a separate probe into the unauthorized leak of classified Israeli military intelligence to the German newspaper Bild. This case involves a sensitive Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) intelligence assessment regarding Hamas' negotiation stance on hostages, which was published without authorization in September 2024. Authorities suspect that the document was removed from Military Intelligence and shared outside official channels. Feldstein and IDF reservist Ari Rosenfeld have been indicted in connection with this leak, facing charges including unlawful dissemination of classified material and obstruction of justice.

Press Freedom Concerns

In a related matter, a court initially ordered KAN journalist Omri Assenheim to hand over raw interview materials to the police. However, this decision was later frozen on appeal, citing concerns about press freedom and journalistic privilege.

Context of Broader Investigations

Although formally separate, the investigation into the alleged midnight meeting and the leak of classified military intelligence have been discussed in connection with what has come to be known as "Qatargate." This broader set of investigations examines suspected undisclosed connections, information flows, and influence efforts involving Qatar and individuals close to Israel’s political leadership. Authorities have emphasized that each investigation is being handled independently, based solely on its own evidentiary record.

Sources:

• Court extends travel ban on Braverman amid probe into alleged 'midnight meeting' — Jerusalem Post
• Court extends travel ban on Braverman amid probe into alleged ‘midnight meeting’ — Yahoo News
• Court upholds police request extending ban on Netanyahu’s chief of staff from PMO — Times of Israel
• Court extends travel ban on Braverman amid probe into alleged ‘midnight meeting’