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Kobi Yaakobi

Left: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara at the Knesset in Jerusalem on September 30, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90); Right: Israel Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, on January 11, 2026. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)
April 28, 2026, 10:36 pm
AG set to indict Israel Prisons chief in probe linked to Ben Gvir
Kobi Yaakobi allegedly informed colleague Avishai Muallem, who was suspected of papering over Jewish nationalist violence, of a covert probe into the matter
By Charlie Summers
Illustrative: Hamas Nukhba terrorists captured on October 7, 2023, are seen in a cell at a prison in central Israel, February 17, 2026 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
February 23, 2026, 2:11 pm
Congregants from prison chief’s synagogue taken on tour to see Hamas prisoners – report
Nitzan jail visit said to include lunch, Q&A with staff and sermon for some 20 members of Kobi Yaakobi’s Jerusalem congregation, including rabbi; prison service doesn’t deny report
By ToI Staff
Footage shows Palestinian prisoners in scenes filmed during National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's visit to the Ofer Prison on February 13, 2026. (Screenshots/X)
February 15, 2026, 9:13 am
After overseeing rough handling of Palestinian prisoners, Ben Gvir posts proud video
Far-right minister tours Ofer Prison with relatives of terror victims, boasts of tough policies as bound inmates paraded at gunpoint; prisoners’ rights group decries ‘revenge’ tactics
By ToI Staff and AFP
Chief Commissioner of the Israel Prison Service Kobi Yaakobi, January 11, 2026. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)
February 12, 2026, 9:52 pm
Prosecutors inform prison chief Yaakobi of plans to indict him on ethics violations
AG, state attorney give 3-week deadline for hearing date; Yaakobi is suspected of squashing probe of top West Bank cop for obstructing investigations into settler violence
By Charlie Summers and ToI Staff
Eran Nahon, chief legal adviser in the Israel Prison Service, attends a hearing regarding sexual abuse claims at Gilboa Prison in the Knesset, Jerusalem on August 3, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90/ File)
January 26, 2026, 10:28 pm
Ben Gvir said seeking to name ally as police top lawyer; commissioner objects
Police minister reportedly planning to appoint prison service’s legal adviser, who promoted harsher conditions for Palestinian inmates, to parallel role in law enforcement
By Charlie Summers
Israel Prisons Service officers prepare inmates for release as part of a hostage deal at Ketziot Prison in southern Israel, on February 26, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
December 16, 2025, 6:10 pm
Prisons ‘on the brink’ as Palestinians not freed in hostage deals despair, top warden warns
Guards increasingly finding diagrams, other info that could be used to plan jailbreaks, official tells Knesset committee, as lack of hope for future swaps raises fear of violence
By Charlie Summers
Chanamel Dorfman seen after his interrogation at the Department of Internal Police Investigations offices, in Jerusalem, February 4, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
September 28, 2025, 10:30 pm
Ben Gvir aide, prisons chief grilled in probe of alleged police corruption
Internal affairs investigators obtain conditional arrest warrant against Chanamel Dorfman after he refuses to respond to summons for questioning. Ben Gvir denounces move
By Jeremy Sharon
Qatargate suspect Jonatan Urich (right) arrives at a hearing at the Central District Court with his attorney, Amit Hadad, on May 22, 2025. (Jonathan Shaul/Flash90)
July 14, 2025, 1:47 pm
Netanyahu slams charges against key aide as ‘baseless and unfounded’
Draft indictment alleges Jonatan Urich transmitted classified documents to harm state security, destroyed evidence; says PM: ‘Jonatan did not harm state security’
By Nava Freiberg and ToI Staff
Qatargate suspect Jonatan Urich attends a hearing at the Lod District Court on May 22, 2025. (Jonathan Shaul/Flash90)
July 14, 2025, 3:45 am
Top Netanyahu aide Jonatan Urich set to be charged in leaked documents case
Charges also pending against prisons chief Kobi Yaakobi for allegedly obstructing probe into West Bank cops; annoucements by AG come amid feud with government, drawing angry reactions
By Charlie Summers, Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff
The Ayalon Prison complex in Ramle, central Israel. (AP/Ariel Schalit)
June 29, 2025, 11:12 pm
Ex-warden claims he was fired, framed over refusal to go easy on Jewish inmates
Shai Parnasa, who faced sexual harassment allegations, accuses Ben Gvir, IPS chief of ousting him after he rejected requests to grant privileges to Jews jailed for nationalist crimes
By Charlie Summers
Israel Prisons Chief Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi attends the first committee meeting for creating a new national guard, held at the National Security Ministry in Jerusalem, on June 7, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 12, 2025, 4:23 pm
Prisons chief sabotaged investigation into West Bank cop, says police-probing unit
AG’s office said to mull charging Kobi Yaakobi with obstructing probe into senior officer who allegedly ignored settler attacks in hopes of pleasing Minister Ben Gvir
By ToI Staff
Head of the Judea and Samaria Police District investigations and intelligence department Commander Avishai Muallem (center) arrives for a hearing at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, December 5, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
December 31, 2024, 3:56 pm
Senior cop suspected of ignoring Jewish attacks in West Bank to win Ben Gvir’s favor
Internal police investigations unit says it suspects Commander Avishai Muallem ‘deviated from the line’ in bid for promotion
By Jeremy Sharon
Senior West Bank police officer Avishai Mualem arrives for a court hearing at the Magistrate's Court in Jerusalem on December 2, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
December 3, 2024, 5:19 pm
Top West Bank cop revealed as suspect in shadowy case linked to Ben Gvir
Ultranationalist minister rushes to defend Cdr. Avishai Mualem, lauding his fight against Arab terrorism and reiterating claim that detentions are part of AG’s effort to oust him
By ToI Staff
Israel Prison Service chief Kobi Yaakobi seen after his questioning at the Police Internal Investigations Department, in Jerusalem December 2, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
December 3, 2024, 12:54 am
Prison service chief detained for questioning; Ben Gvir accuses AG of ‘attempted coup’
Kobi Yaakobi probed for hours on suspicion of breach of trust, obstructing justice, is let go under restrictive conditions; Ben Gvir, who appointed him, says AG crossed ‘red line’
By ToI Staff
Israel Prisons Chief Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi attends the first committee meeting for creating a new national guard, held at the National Security Ministry in Jerusalem, on June 7, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 14, 2024, 6:05 pm
After spat, cabinet okays Ben Gvir’s pick for new interim head of Prison Service
Minister says Kobi Yaakobi ‘the right man in the right place at the right time’; Israel Police chief Shabtai’s term extended for 6 months, despite Ben Gvir’s initial objection
By ToI Staff and Jeremy Sharon
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