Herzog intervened to advance Frankcom investigation, embassy says
The embassy expressed sorrow and commiserations to Frankcom's family, and acknowledged operational failures had occurred, for which senior officers were disciplined
Israel’s embassy in Australia has revealed that President Isaac Herzog personally intervened to advance the investigation into the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, as it defended the IDF’s decision not to pursue criminal proceedings over the 2024 strike.
In a special edition newsletter distributed on Thursday, the embassy said the decision was made by the chief military prosecutor in the Military Advocate General Corps, which it described as an independent authority conducting professional factual assessments of operational incidents.
It said Herzog got involved in order to promote the investigation, at the encouragement of Israel’s ambassador to Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised the case with Herzog during his visit in February.
The embassy expressed sorrow at the loss of innocent life and commiserations to Frankcom’s family, and acknowledged operational failures had occurred, for which senior officers were disciplined.
“However, ‘operational failures’ do not necessarily amount to criminal liability,” it said, adding that criminal proceedings are launched only where there is more than reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct according to the standards of criminal law.
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