The Police Investigations Department has summoned a number of senior police officers to testify in open court as part of the suspicions against the commander of Lahav 433, Chief Meni Binyamin.
According to Adir Gitsis' report this evening (Tuesday) on Channel 12, Chief Boaz Balat, head of the Investigations Division, and Lieutenant Colonel Assaf Tzur, commander of Yachabal, are among the senior officials who gave open testimony - and were not questioned at this stage.
The investigation, which has so far focused on Binyamin's alleged interference in a sensitive matter related to a businessman close to him, is now branching out into another affair: the IDF suspects that Lieutenant General Meni Binyamin was involved in the promotion procedures of an officer close to him, his wife's cousin, Lieutenant Colonel Tomer Strauss, to the position of commander of the investigations branch of the International Investigations Unit (ISU). Strauss was promoted to the rank of NTC and received the appointment in April 2025. He is not a suspect in the affair.
A number of senior police officers gave testimony in the investigation regarding the circumstances of the appointment.
Senior police officials estimate that Binyamin's chances of returning to active duty are very low.
Uri Korev, the lawyer for Major Meni Binyamin, commander of Lahav Unit 433, responded on Channel 12: "The officer's promotion was done legally, in accordance with his recommendation and selection for the position by his new direct commander.".
Binyamin was first questioned about two weeks ago on suspicion of breach of trust and abuse of authority, after it emerged that he was involved in handling a sensitive case involving a person with whom he had a personal relationship, without reporting a conflict of interest. He denied the suspicions and claimed that the relationship was purely professional, and was documented as required in police systems.
The interrogation lasted over seven hours, and at the end it was decided to temporarily remove him from police facilities for nine days. His mobile phone was also confiscated for examination.
Upon the end of the suspension period, the police announced that Commissioner Danny Levy authorized Binyamin to take a week-long vacation, pending further investigation.
Superintendent Binyamin is still on leave from the police, as agreed with the Commissioner, to allow the investigation to be completed.
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