Beersheba Resident Jailed for Multi-Million Shekel Fraud Targeting War Relief Efforts

A Beersheba resident, Hayim Abitan, was sentenced on Sunday to 10 years and 3 months in prison and ordered to pay about 1.5 million shekels in compensation after admitting or being found guilty of a large-scale fraud scheme that exploited public support for evacuees from the war triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack. The court said he used the atmosphere of solidarity around the “Swords of Iron” war to enrich himself at the expense of victims across Israel.

According to the ruling, Abitan operated for about a year and four months and deceived 21 victims through false identities, changing phone numbers, forged documents and other false claims. He told suppliers and business owners that the goods he ordered were intended for evacuees from the south and north, and in some cases claimed to be a hotel owner in Herzliya housing evacuees. Using that story, he obtained goods and trust from merchants, farmers and vendors.

The scheme included ordering roughly two tons of grapes, more than 1,500 kilograms of lemons and prickly pears for hundreds of supposed evacuees, and 180 bottles of wine allegedly for residents of the Gaza border area. After receiving the goods, he either gave worthless checks or sent documents that appeared to confirm bank transfers, but no payment was actually made. The court said the case was broader than it first seemed and included a sophisticated, repeated pattern of fraud against importers, marketers, food suppliers, shop owners, beverage suppliers, farmers and other businesses.

The judges said the harm went beyond millions of shekels, describing a deep blow to public trust and mutual aid during wartime. They wrote that such conduct must be strongly deterred because it cynically exploits national unity and discourages people from helping those in need. Abitan’s criminal record also weighed heavily against him: he has been known to welfare authorities since 2001, has repeatedly been convicted of fraud, forgery, impersonation and attempted fraud, and has served a cumulative 210 months in prison, about 17.5 years. He was released on January 13, 2023, and returned to fraud within about five months. A probation report said he has recently begun addiction treatment in prison and shows some understanding of his conduct, but authorities said the rehabilitation process is still ongoing and not enough to justify a major sentence reduction.