Israel Police raids Foreign Ministry, uncovers fraudulent diplomatic passports

Israel Police officers raided the Foreign Ministry offices in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, seizing materials and documents as part of an undercover investigation into the distribution of falsified diplomatic passports.

As previously reported by Haaretz and Maariv, the invalid passports were allegedly given to several regional council heads and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's two sons, Yair and Avner.

The raid, carried out by national crime unit Lahav 433's National Fraud Investigation Unit, was part of an undercover investigation opened in the previous weeks into events that took place during former foreign minister Eli Cohen's tenure, meaning the passports were handed out before Foreign Minister Israel Katz took office in January.

Those suspected of illegally receiving the passports reportedly did not pass the prerequisite tests, which must be carried out by non-diplomats who wish to be granted such passports. Typically, diplomatic passports are given to government officials to bypass normal travel regulations, such as visas, in order for them to be able to fully carry out diplomatic duties.

Police have yet to summon individuals suspected in the scheme to an investigation. According to Maariv, the investigation is being closely followed by the State Attorney's Office due to the high-profile nature of those suspected to be involved.

Eli Cohen served as foreign minister from the government's formation in 2022 to the start of 2024, when a rotation agreement saw him move to Israel Katz's Energy Ministry.

Yair Netanyahu given diplomatic passport due to security concerns

According to Israeli reports, Cohen's ministry director-general, Ronen Levi Maoz, approved the distribution of the falsified passports, arguing in a statement that he was following an order made by the then-foreign minister. Maoz left the ministry one month after October 7 and the outbreak of the war in Gaza, citing "irreconcilable differences" between the minister and himself.

As per Maariv, the decision to grant Netanyahu a diplomatic passport was made due to security concerns related to the prime minister's son's prolonged stay in Miami, Florida.

Maariv further reported that, during MK Avigdor Liberman's tenures in the ministry in 2009 and 2014, similar requests made by the Netanyahu family were approved by then-ministry director-generals Yossi Gal and Nissim Ben-Shitrit, respectively.