Jerusalem, 12 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Sa’ar suspended himself from office Monday following his arrest on Suspicion of accepting bribes to influence municipal tenders, in a corruption investigation that also led to the arrest of his wife and a senior municipal official.
Police from Lahav 433’s National Fraud Investigation Unit arrested 17 suspects and detained seven others in the case, which involves suspected bribery, fraud, breach of trust, money laundering and tax offenses. Investigators are examining allegations that the mayor and his wife, Meital, lived a luxurious lifestyle funded by illicit payments.
According to police suspicions, businessmen paid bribes, mainly in cash, to secure favorable treatment in municipal tenders. The alleged scheme involved the mayor, the chief executive of the municipality’s economic company and, unusually, the mayor’s wife, who is suspected of intervening in appointments, dismissals and management decisions, promoting businessmen and relaying messages to her husband.
The tenders under investigation cover a broad range of municipal services and projects, including renovations of educational institutions, cleaning, transportation, street lighting, traffic lights, food carts and urban renewal.
Investigators are also examining suspected links between those involved and criminal elements, including allegations that competitors in tenders were threatened. The suspected bribery mechanism allegedly brought hundreds of thousands of shekels into the couple’s pockets.
Sa’ar, who has served as mayor since 2018, confirmed that he was under investigation and said he would cooperate with authorities.
“I intend to cooperate fully with the investigating authorities and provide all the necessary explanations,” he said, adding that he could not comment on the details while the investigation was ongoing.
The mayor urged the public not to draw conclusions before the facts were established and said municipal services would continue as usual. Deputy Mayor Danny Harosh will fill his place during his suspension, Sa’ar said.
The undercover investigation began in May 2025, following dozens of intelligence reports pointing to suspected widespread corruption in the municipality. According to investigators, the inquiry examined alleged offenses dating back to 2019.
As part of Monday’s operation, police searched approximately 30 locations. The investigation remains ongoing.
