Goldknopf’s Real Estate Empire: NIS 1.5 Million a Year From Rent

How did Yitzhak Goldknopf become a real estate tycoon? i24News reporter Avishai Grinzig continues this evening to expose the assets of the chairman of United Torah Judaism, based on an Israel Tax Authority investigation.

Following the investigation revealed in recent days, data were presented showing an unusual jump in his reported rental income. According to the report, "in 2021 alone, his income from real estate rental stood at NIS 1,572,990." This figure raises many questions when compared with previous years. "In 2020, the annual report stood at only NIS 95,600, meaning a jump of more than 1,600% in Goldknopf’s own income from real estate rental."

Goldknopf provided the Tax Authority with an explanation for the dramatic increase, claiming that this was not regular current income, but a retroactive payment, made only as an act of goodwill. According to his explanation, it was a payment for previous years, even though he was not obligated to make it. "I am paying you in 2021 for previous years, when I was not required to, but I want to pay anyway."

However, Grinzig notes that the law enforcement authorities do not appear eager to accept this version. Another significant point in the affair is the timing of the payment. Goldknopf chose to settle the matter "at the end of 2022," a timing that raises questions: "What happened at the end of 2022? He was appointed housing minister. That timing is no coincidence."

Now, the fate of the case depends on a decision by the highest legal authorities. Grinzig summed up the development: "All of this is waiting on the desk of the attorney general, whether to investigate him under caution or not."

For now, "the attorney general is not enthusiastic about opening an investigation, certainly not before elections," but in the legal system, "they will wait and see where this goes."