"They sold the city": Mayor of Kfar Saba and his wife arrested for corruption

The mayor of Kfar Saba, Rafi Saar, his wife Meital, and 22 other suspects have been detained in a corruption case. Allegations include receiving cash bribes for rigging tenders. Police stated that "the city was sold." Saar has been temporarily suspended from his position, with Dani Harush serving as his replacement.

The mayor of Kfar Saba, Rafi Saar, his wife Meital, and 22 other suspects were detained on October 22 in a corruption case led by the police special unit Lahav 433. According to suspicions, officials received large sums of cash for rigging tenders in favor of certain interested parties. A police source stated that "this is about a city that was sold — nothing less than that." Saar, elected in 2018, has temporarily suspended his duties and stated his intention to cooperate with the investigation. His deputy, Dani Harush, will take his place. The investigation began in May 2025. The suspects are suspected of corruption, bribery, fraud, money laundering, and other crimes. Seventeen suspects remain under arrest, while seven have been released. A special role is attributed to the mayor's wife, who, without holding an official position, was a "dominant and central figure" in the case. Businessmen interested in winning tenders approached her. The tenders covered almost all areas of city activity: school renovations, business openings, sports, transportation, and cleaning. The connection between the mayor and his wife with criminal organizations is also being investigated.