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Case against former IDF head Ashkenazi closed, paving way for political career

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Israel’s Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein yesterday officially closed the criminal investigation against former-IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, who is now being touted to enter politics, potentially adding significant security credentials to either Zionist Union or Yesh Atid.

Weinstein’s decision yesterday put an end to a five-year investigation into the so-called ‘Harpaz Affair,’ revolving around a document forged by Lt.Col. Boaz Harpaz, which first came to light in August 2010. It exacerbated serious tensions between then Defence Minister Ehud Barak and then Chief of Staff Ashkenazi, purporting as evidence that Barak was conducting a campaign to discredit Ashkenazi and to build the credentials a candidate to succeed him, who Ashkenazi opposed. It was alleged that Ashkenazi obstructed justice on receiving the document. However, Weinstein said yesterday that there was a lack of evidence against Ashkenazi and two other senior military figures, despite an enormous body of material which had been examined.

Ashkenazi responded to the decision yesterday, saying, “After an unprecedented examination … it was found that I did not commit any felony. It is only regrettable that this issue was investigated for five and a half years.”

Ashkenazi was expected to launch a political career once his term at the helm of the IDF ended, but the ‘Harpaz Affair’ delayed any such move. He is widely credited with having rehabilitated the IDF following the 2006 Second Lebanon War, in which the armed forces were considered to have performed problematically.

Following yesterday’s decision, Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog said via social media, “I welcome former chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi, Ronit, and his family, on the closing of the file and the weight that was removed from their shoulders.” Meanwhile, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said, “This is important news for his family, for the IDF, and the state.” Both are thought to have met with Ashkenazi with a view to him joining their party in a senior role.