A sensitive legal affair involving Israel's top leadership has reached a critical juncture, according to a report published in Maariv. The case concerns serious allegations regarding attempts to alter and forge official protocols in the Prime Minister's Office, pertaining to the events of the morning of October 7, 2023. According to reports, the criminal investigation into the matter, conducted by the Lahav 433 unit, concluded some time ago, but a final decision on the case has yet to be reached. Currently, the case sits with the Attorney General, Adv. Gali Baharav-Miara, who is tasked with determining the next steps.
At the center of the investigation is Tzachi Braverman, who served as the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, and was investigated on suspicion of involvement in altering call transcripts. According to claims raised in the report, the matter began following an inquiry by Avi Gil, who alerted the Attorney General to actions intended to modify or re-collect protocols shortly after the war began. Gil reported that a stenographer at the office informed him she had been asked to alter the documentation of a conversation held with the Prime Minister at 06:40, so that it would be recorded at an earlier time—06:29. The central allegation is that the stenographer refused to perform the change, citing that the conversation was recorded and documented in the computer systems.
This issue, which first arose in January 2024, led to the opening of an in-depth police investigation. Despite the fact that the investigation concluded long ago and materials were transferred to the State Attorney's Office for review, no decision has been made on whether to file an indictment or close the case. This is a matter of high public and legal sensitivity, concerning integrity and the accuracy of national documentation during the state's most difficult moments of crisis. The practical implication of this delay is ongoing uncertainty regarding the accountability of senior government officials for their actions during the first days of the war. Generally, criminal proceedings involving key figures in the public service are scrutinized with extra care by the State Attorney's Office and the Attorney General, and any decision taken—whether to close the case or prosecute—is expected to resonate throughout the legal and political systems. As of now, all allegations against Braverman remain mere suspicions that have not yet been adjudicated by the competent legal authorities.