Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar Suspected in Wide-Ranging Corruption Case

Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife, Meital Saar, are the central suspects in a sprawling corruption investigation that has now become public. They are suspected of accepting bribes in exchange for awarding large-scale tenders within the city, including renovations for educational institutions, cleaning services, and even food stalls. The police stated that known criminals are also involved in the case.

Saar announced he is suspending himself from his duties and pledged full cooperation with investigators. He stated, "Due to the ongoing investigation, I cannot currently address the details, but I believe the clarification will allow for the full picture to be presented. I ask to refrain from drawing conclusions before the facts are clarified. It is important to ensure that the municipality's work and services to residents continue as usual, responsibly and professionally. Deputy Mayor Dov Harosh will fill my place during this time."

According to the suspicions, business people approached Meital Saar, establishing a "give and take" relationship, and she acted to ensure they won municipal tenders and projects. The police suspect that to conceal the favoritism shown to certain businesspeople and the alleged bid-rigging, projects were transferred from the municipality to the municipal economic company. It is suspected that coordination occurred between the Saars and the CEO of the economic company, who allegedly knew in advance which party was slated to win tenders submitted to him.

Investigators believe that in some cases, obstacles were placed before tender participants, forcing them to withdraw. Subsequently, the projects were allegedly transferred to business entities with whom the couple purportedly had beneficial connections. A significant aspect of the investigation also concerns the Saars' lifestyle and their alleged extensive use of cash for expenses, including foreign travel and purchases of jewelry, clothing, and bags.

Saar, 59, was elected mayor in October 2018 with the support of the Labor Party, winning a second term in 2024 by fewer than 800 votes. His predecessor, Yehuda Ben-Hamo, was convicted in 2021 of theft by a public servant and other fraud charges, receiving a 30-month prison sentence. Kfar Saba has over 100,000 residents and is ranked in the 8th socioeconomic cluster, partly due to its concentration of high-tech companies.