Israeli Police Decline to Share Sde Teiman Leak Investigation Materials with Minister-Appointed Investigator

Senior Israeli police officials have declined to provide investigation materials from the Sde Teiman video leak case to Asher Kula, who was appointed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin to lead the probe. The officials are awaiting the High Court's approval of Kula's appointment before granting access to the materials.

A source within the police's National Headquarters stated, "This was the most viable attempt yet to trample democracy." The source credited Police Commissioner Danny Levy, investigations chief Deputy Commissioner Boaz Blatt, and police legal adviser Assistant Commissioner Elazar Kahana with personally preventing the handover by insisting on High Court authorization.

Justice Minister Levin appointed Kula, the state ombudsman for judges, to investigate former military advocate general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi for allegedly leaking surveillance footage that appeared to show soldiers abusing a Gazan detainee at the Sde Teiman facility. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara opposed Levin's appointment of Kula, arguing that it was an overreach of authority. She recommended transferring the investigation to the State Attorney’s Office, following a legal opinion that suggested her recusal due to a prior decision to close a related case without a criminal investigation.

The dispute between Levin and Baharav-Miara is expected to be addressed by the High Court. In the interim, Kula approached the police to request access to the investigation materials, asserting that his appointment was legally valid in the absence of a High Court injunction. However, police officials have maintained their position, emphasizing the need for judicial approval before proceeding.

The Sde Teiman video, leaked in August 2024, led to the indictment of five reservists in February. The trial's progress is uncertain after the detainee involved was released back to Gaza as part of an October 9 exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas.