Israeli Coalition Faces Scrutiny Over Politicians Under Investigation or Convicted

A significant number of ministers and Knesset members within Israel's current coalition government have faced or are currently facing criminal investigations, indictments, or have prior convictions. As of September 2026, the coalition includes three ministers and MKs with past criminal convictions, three facing trial or indicted, and eight whose cases are under investigation or being reviewed by the State Prosecutor's Office. The alleged offenses range from bribery, fraud, and breach of trust to sex offenses and violations of the Shin Bet law.

Among those with past convictions are Aryeh Deri, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Haim Katz. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and David Biton are currently on trial, while Tali Gottlieb has been indicted but granted parliamentary immunity. Eight other coalition members are under investigation for various alleged crimes.

Notable cases include Hanoch Milvitzky, who was appointed chairman of the Finance Committee four days after being questioned under caution on suspicion of rape. May Golan refused to cooperate with an investigation, and her case was forwarded to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment. Nissim Vaturi and Amihai Eliyahu also refused to appear for questioning in connection with an incident at the Shdei Teiman base.

In parallel, a bill requiring Knesset approval before initiating an investigation against a Member of Knesset passed its preliminary reading in December 2024. Israeli Basic Law stipulates that individuals sentenced to over three months imprisonment for a crime involving moral turpitude are barred from running for the Knesset for seven years. The article details the specific charges and legal proceedings for several prominent figures, including Netanyahu, Deri, Ben-Gvir, Biton, and Gottlieb, highlighting the ongoing legal battles and their implications for the political landscape.