Ex-Police Commander Facing Bribery Probe Eyed for City Manager Role

Senior police commander Avishai Moalem, formerly head of the Judea and Samaria district's special investigations unit, has retired from the Israel Police and is reportedly a candidate for the position of Tiberias Municipality Director-General. The appointment is being considered despite Moalem facing serious criminal suspicions.

The Tiberias Municipality confirmed Moalem is one of the candidates and that an interview committee will convene after the holiday. Moalem is the central suspect in an investigation by the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) concerning alleged improper ties and the transfer of sensitive information to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his associates. Investigators suspect Moalem deliberately prevented the arrest of far-right activists accused of nationalistic terrorism in Judea and Samaria, in exchange for career advancement.

Additionally, Israel Prison Service Commissioner Katy Yaacobi was questioned under caution by Mahash regarding his alleged transfer of classified information to Moalem concerning a covert investigation. Yaacobi was previously slated for indictment, pending a hearing, in a case dubbed "Ben-Gvir's Associates" for offenses including fraud, breach of trust, and obstruction of justice.

Moalem has vehemently denied all accusations, claiming the system "stitched him up" in retaliation for professional disputes with the Jewish division of the Shin Bet security agency over handling nationalistic crime in Judea and Samaria. He alleges he was subjected to surveillance and break-ins, with security clauses used to justify invasive investigations. He also claims he was pressured to make baseless arrests and that critical intelligence was withheld from him.

Further details revealed that on the night far-right activists rioted in the Palestinian village of Jit, Moalem allegedly ignored Shin Bet calls for assistance. A subordinate officer warned of violent activist gatherings and a convoy of masked vehicles leaving Yitzhar, with a Shin Bet source stating there was ample time to apprehend them, but Moalem allegedly refused.

Minister Ben-Gvir called Yaacobi's investigation "persecution," praising him as a brave fighter and the best commissioner in Israel's history, and accusing the "deep state" of pursuing him. The Tiberias Municipality itself has recently been in the public eye due to a NIS 60 million upgrade of its promenade, which proceeded despite threats against the mayor.