Shas MK Haim Biton Investigated Again Over Alleged Misuse of Public Funds for Party Children’s Magazine

Haim Biton, a Shas party member of the Knesset and former deputy minister in the Ministry of Education, was questioned for the second time on Sunday in an ongoing investigation by the National Fraud Investigations Unit (Yahch"a) at Lahav 433. The probe centers on allegations that public funds allocated for educational purposes were improperly used to finance a Shas-affiliated children’s supplement called "Avivim," published within the privately owned newspaper "HaDerech." This newspaper is linked to the Maayan Hachinuch Hatorani network, which Biton managed as CEO during part of the period under investigation, from 2017 to 2021.

The investigation began openly in March last year after a covert inquiry lasting several months. Authorities suspect offenses including fraud, breach of trust, false corporate documentation, and money laundering. The children’s supplement was reportedly produced despite legal advice against it, with content deemed partisan and unauthorized for public funding. Earlier journalistic reports revealed internal communications from Yitzhak Kakon, the newspaper’s manager, requesting lists of employees working simultaneously for the newspaper and the Maayan network to increase their wages improperly. Bank transfers amounting to tens of thousands of shekels were also uncovered, paid by Maayan Hachinuch Hatorani for editing and writing the supplement.

Biton’s interrogation is part of the investigation’s completion phase, focusing on the alleged diversion of educational budget funds to support the publication and distribution of the partisan children’s supplement. The case highlights concerns over misuse of public money within political party-affiliated educational frameworks and media outlets.