Case against Gabi Ashkenazi closed in 'Harpaz affair'
Attorney general says there is not enough evidence to continue investigating former IDF chief of staff about his role in the incident involving a forged letter.
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein announced on Wednesday that he was officially closing the case against former IDF chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi and two other people in the so-called "Harpaz affair", first exposed in August 2010.
Ashkenazi was suspected of obstruction of justice in the case. Weinstein said he was closing the cases because of lack of evidence.
The attorney general closed the investigation of Brigadier General Avi Benayahu, a former IDF spokesman, and Colonel Erez Weiner, a former Ashkenazi aide.
Weinstein also decided not to delay issuing an indictment against Lt. Colonel (res.) Boaz Harpaz, who forged a letter intending to cast doubt over the candidacy of Major General Yoav Galant as the new head of the military six years ago. The letter contained guidelines to building up a positive image for Galant and discrediting Ashkenazi and Benny Gantz. Harpaz's involvement was, of course, the reason the scandal became known as the "Harpaz affair".
Galant's nomination was backed by then-defense minister Ehud Barak, while then-chief of staff Ashkenazi preferred Major General Gadi Eizenkot.
Ashkenazi was later accused of a role in placing the letter penned by Harpaz, which ostensibly proved that Barak and his top aides were acting inappropriately in trying to promote Galant's candidacy.
Galant was initially named as Ashkenazi's successor, but stepped down over allegations of impropriety over property development at his home. Benny Gantz was subsequently appointed, and Eizenkot became his deputy. Eizenkot was chosen as Gantz's successor in late 2014.
