Israeli Man Charged with Polygamy and Fraud for Illegally Claiming Benefits

A 50-year-old Bedouin man from the Negev region of southern Israel has been indicted for allegedly defrauding the National Insurance Institute (Bituah Leumi) of hundreds of thousands of shekels by concealing two marriages. The Southern District Prosecutor's Office filed charges of aggravated fraud and polygamy against the man, identified as R., in the Beersheba Magistrate's Court.

According to the indictment, R. married his first wife about 30 years ago, divorced her, and they have 12 children. Approximately 20 years ago, he allegedly married a second wife but did not report it to authorities, instead registering her as a "civil partner." They have nine children. Around five years ago, he reportedly married a third woman, with whom he has a daughter, again registering her as a "civil partner" rather than a wife. Investigators obtained documents from a Sharia court, which they claim indicate R. entered into three marriages, a violation of Israeli law against polygamy.

Authorities allege that by falsely declaring his two later wives as civil partners, R. received hundreds of thousands of shekels from Bituah Leumi. The case is part of a broader crackdown on fraudulent social benefit claims. Last month, a large-scale operation called "National Justice" in the Judea and Samaria region, involving police, Bituah Leumi, and the Population and Immigration Authority, led to the termination of benefits for 211 residents suspected of providing false residency information to obtain social benefits. Officials estimate this effort will save the state tens of millions of shekels.

Bituah Leumi emphasized that benefit eligibility is based on legal requirements and residency, and that false declarations trigger enforcement actions, including benefit termination, recovery of funds, and legal proceedings. The prosecution intends to seek a prison sentence for R., and court proceedings are expected to begin soon.