State Service Commissioner Delays Decision on Suspending Tzachi Braverman Over Night Meeting Case

Nearly two months after Doron Cohen assumed the role of State Service Commissioner and about a month since Tzachi Braverman's hearing regarding his alleged involvement in the 'night meeting' affair, no decision has yet been made on suspending him. The usual protocol mandates that suspension decisions follow immediately after such hearings, but sources within law enforcement suggest Cohen is hesitant due to the government's stance on the matter.

In May, the prosecution informed Braverman's legal team that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Isman were considering criminal charges against him for fraud, breach of trust, and obstruction of justice, contingent on a hearing. News 13 first reported that the prosecution recommended the State Service Commissioner consider suspending Braverman from all public roles for six months.

Braverman, former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, faced a suspension hearing via Zoom in June, following the indictment filed against him in the night meeting case at the Kirya parking lot. Despite a prior hearing under the former commissioner, no suspension decision was made. Subsequently, the prosecution filed charges and renewed the suspension request.

About three months earlier, News 13 revealed that the disciplinary division of the State Service Commissioner recommended suspending Braverman for six months, which blocked his appointment as Israel's ambassador to the UK. The allegations stem from October 2024, when Braverman allegedly learned of a covert investigation into leaking classified information to Germany's Bild newspaper. He reportedly urgently met with Eli Feldstein, then communications advisor to Netanyahu, at the Kirya base late at night, discussing names involved in the investigation and asking if it concerned them, implying he could stop the probe.

The investigation later became public with the arrests and indictments of Feldstein and Ari Rosenfeld, accused of leaking the secret information. Additionally, Jonathan Urich, Netanyahu's senior advisor, was also indicted in the case.