Eli Cohen investigation ends, case moves to prosecutors

Israel Police said Wednesday that the national fraud investigations unit, Lahav 433's 433, has completed its two-and-a-half-year investigation into former Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and civil servants at the Foreign Ministry over suspected integrity-related offenses. The case now goes to the State Attorney's Office, which will decide whether to file an indictment.

The investigation into Cohen and other senior officials began in January 2024, with approval from the attorney general's legal team, on suspicion of breach of trust. Police said the former minister and Foreign Ministry staff were suspected of issuing diplomatic passports to various people for improper, non-professional reasons.

According to police, dozens of people were questioned and many documents were seized during the probe. The case was handled with oversight from the Taxation and Economic Prosecution unit.

After all investigative steps were completed, Lahav 433 commander Maj. Gen. Meni Benyamin approved the case summary and passed it to the head of the investigations and intelligence division, Maj. Gen. Boaz Bloat, who also approved it and ordered that it be sent to prosecutors for review and a decision.