Police finish probe into Eli Cohen’s diplomatic passport case, prosecutors to decide on charges

Israel’s National Fraud Investigations Unit in Lahav 433 said Wednesday it has completed its investigation into former foreign minister and MK Eli Cohen, along with Foreign Ministry civil servants, on suspected integrity-related offenses. Investigators said the case produced evidentiary grounds for alleged crimes by Cohen and ministry officials, and the attorney general is now expected to decide whether to file an indictment.

The probe was opened in January 2024, with the attorney general’s approval, on suspicion of breach of trust. According to the suspicions, during Cohen’s tenure as foreign minister, diplomatic passports were issued to various people for non-substantive reasons.

Dozens of people were questioned during the investigation, and numerous documents were seized. The case was handled with the involvement of the State Attorney’s Office for Taxation and Economics.

After the investigative steps were completed, Lahav 433 chief Commander Manny Benjamin approved the case summary and passed it to the head of the Investigation and Intelligence Division, Commander Boaz Balt. Balt then approved the summary and ordered that the file be transferred to the prosecution for review and a decision.