Former Police Officer Alleges Cover-Up in Netanyahu Corruption Case

A former Israeli police officer has made unprecedented claims in court, alleging systemic misconduct in the corruption investigation against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The former officer accused senior officials of manipulating evidence and deliberately covering up irregularities.

Tzahi Hafkin, a retired deputy in the police’s elite Unit 433, testified that high-ranking police officials and Netanyahu aides distorted documents and tampered with interrogation records during key corruption probes. He claimed that some interrogations were effectively fabricated, with investigators altering transcripts and modifying suspects’ statements to support the prosecution’s case.

Hafkin provided specific details about the arrest of a woman associated with Nir Hefetz, Netanyahu’s former media adviser. The arrest, he alleged, was not aimed at uncovering the truth but rather at exerting psychological pressure on Hefetz. According to Hafkin, there was no legal justification for the woman’s detention.

He also revealed that in Case 4000 — one of several major corruption cases involving Netanyahu — a key meeting cited in the indictment between Netanyahu and former top official Shlomo Filber never actually took place. Despite this, the fabricated meeting was included in the indictment and even endorsed by a judicial advisor at the time.

Netanyahu is facing three major corruption cases. Case 1000 involves allegations that he and his wife received expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen, including Arnon Milchan and James Packer. Case 2000 centers on alleged clandestine deals with the publisher of the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper to secure favorable coverage in exchange for undermining a rival outlet.

Despite repeatedly raising concerns, Hafkin said his warnings of misconduct were consistently ignored by senior police officials. He stated that after enduring intense pressure, he decided to break his silence and publicly share his knowledge with the judiciary and the public.

These new revelations have raised serious questions about Israel’s judicial system and the extent of alleged cover-ups within its top security agencies — an issue likely to stir political tensions and public backlash in any functioning democracy. The case also underscores the critical need for transparency in legal institutions when dealing with potential misconduct by political elites.