Police investigate the issuance of fraudulent passports, including to Netanyahu's son

The Israeli Police raided the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem as part of an investigation into the issuance of fraudulent diplomatic passports, including one to Yair Netanyahu, eldest son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to Haaretz, the agents confiscated documents related to the time when the ministry was directed by Eli Cohen, now Minister of Energy, but who between 2022 and 2024 held the Foreign Affairs portfolio.

The minister is expected to be questioned by authorities as part of the investigation, which was launched a few weeks ago.

The scandal broke out after the publication in Haaretz of an exclusive last December that pointed to Cohen as allegedly responsible for issuing diplomatic passports to important members of Likud, Netanyahu's party, including the president's son, and against the judgment of ministry professionals.

Following the news, Israel's Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, ordered an investigation into the case.

"This is an important step to clarify the facts and ensure good governance in the institutions"said today the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, which defends democracy.

The group asked the Israeli Supreme Court to cancel the passports in question, including that of Yair Netanyahu, and called on all those involved to cooperate with the investigation.

Diplomatic passports allow government officials to travel between countries more easily, and there are clear guidelines from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that regulate who can access them: ministers, legislators, senior military officials, diplomats and senior judicial officials.

Those not on that list must receive approval from a special committee that decides whether there are national security or diplomatic reasons that justify the issuance.

Agencies contributed to this Aurora article.