Netanyahu chief of staff Braverman okayed as next envoy to UK

The cabinet unanimously approves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff Tzachi Braverman as Israel’s next ambassador in London, the Foreign Ministry says.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar thanks outgoing ambassador Tzipi Hotovely for her work, according to the ministry.

Braverman has been the prime minister’s chief of staff since April 2022, when Netanyahu was the opposition leader. Braverman kept the job when Likud won an election later that year and Netanyahu became prime minister. He and his wife are close friends and allies of the Netanyahu family,

Braverman is under investigation for suspected forgery and fraud over alleged record tampering in the Prime Minister’s Office, and has been questioned by police. He is suspected of having altered the stated time at which Netanyahu first gave instructions on how to deal with the Hamas invasion on the morning of October 7, 2023.

Holding a law degree from Bar-Ilan University, Braverman began his career as the spokesman of the Ness Ziona municipality and director general of its educational and cultural institutions before moving to national politics, heading up Likud’s election campaign in 2013.

The announcement comes hours before London is expected to announce recognition of a Palestinian state, a move with the potential to significantly impact ties.