Police widen probe of Ashkenazi in Harpaz affair

Justice Ministry says the decision was made due to new evidence that has emerged; Ashkenazi "will cooperate fully."

By BEN HARTMAN
Gabi Ashkenazi at Jpost Conference370 (photo credit: Screenshot)
Gabi Ashkenazi at Jpost Conference370
(photo credit: Screenshot)
Police will open a wider criminal investigation into the so-called Harpaz document, the Justice Ministry announced on Thursday.
The wider investigation will involve questioning all of those involved in the forged document affair that led to the cancellation in February 2011 of Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant’s candidacy to be IDF chief of staff, after the cabinet had approved it the previous September.
Those to be questioned include former chief of staff Lt.-Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi.
The Justice Ministry said the decision was made due to new evidence that has emerged, and the Police Investigations and Operations Branch along with the IDF Military Police will carry it out.
The Harpaz Affair centers around a document forged by Lt.-Col. (res.) Boaz Harpaz in an effort to discredit Galant’s 2010-2011 candidacy for chief of staff, and reveal embarrassing conflicts between then-chief of staff Ashkenazi and thendefense minister Ehud Barak over policy and interpersonal issues. The forgery accused Galant of attempting to smear rival candidate Benny Gantz, who eventually got the job as IDF chief.
In June, a top aide to Attorney- General Yehuda Weinstein said that Harpaz would be indicted for forging the Harpaz document.
Ashkenazi’s media adviser said on Thursday night that the former chief of staff had received notification of the expanded investigation and that he “will cooperate fully with the hope that finally the truth will come to light.”
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.