Police question Ashkenazi, Benayahu again in Harpaz Affair

Police say Ashkenazi is under suspicion of breach of public trust, obstruction of justice and disclosing classified information.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
Former IDF chief of staff Lt.- Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi 370 (photo credit: Screenshot CNN)
Former IDF chief of staff Lt.- Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi 370
(photo credit: Screenshot CNN)
Former IDF chief-of-staff Lt.-Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi and former head IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. (res.) Avi Benayahu on Sunday were both questioned again by police in the Harpaz Affair in questioning that has gone on for an extended period.
Ashkenazi’s wife, Ronit, the prime minister's Cabinet Secretary and his former chief-of-staff Col. (res.) Erez Weiner as well as former IDF Magistrate Advocate General Avichai Mandelblit have also been questioned recently.
The Harpaz Affair refers to an alleged 2010 plot by Lt.-Col. (res.) Boaz Harpaz, and possibly others, to illegally undermine then-defense minister Ehud Barak’s choice to succeed Ashkenazi as IDF chief.
The police said Ashkenazi is under suspicion of breach of public trust, obstruction of justice and giving classified information to unauthorized persons, while the charges against Benayahu may even be more serious.