Israeli Police Investigate Two Polygamy Cases Involving Multiple Marriages and Illegal Residency
The Southern District Police's Polygamy Unit is investigating an 83-year-old Bedouin man from Rahat suspected of marrying nine women over the years and fathering 45 children. According to the investigation, the man married these women under Sharia law, with an additional marriage to an Israeli resident in April 2026. The probe began in May 2026 after receiving information about the case. Authorities found that five of his wives are not Israeli residents, including Palestinian Authority residents allegedly staying in Israel without legal permits. One of these women, from the Dahria area, was detained and later deported from Israel. The suspect was questioned on charges of polygamy, harboring, and transporting illegal residents and was released under restrictive conditions, including house arrest.
Simultaneously, the Polygamy Unit is investigating a 40-year-old man from Bir al-Saba who reportedly married a third wife on July 30, 2026, while already married to two women. Shortly after the wedding, the couple went on a honeymoon to Barcelona. Upon their return on August 15, the man was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport in a joint operation by Southern District detectives and airport police. The third wife was detained for questioning, and testimonies were collected from the other two wives living in the same household. The man was released under restrictive conditions, with additional evidence linking him to the polygamy offense.
Both investigations are ongoing, with further police actions planned before the cases are forwarded to the Southern District Prosecutor's Office for legal review. The Polygamy Unit was established at the end of 2024 by the Ministry of National Security and the Israel Police to address polygamy and related offenses in southern Israel. The police described polygamy as a "serious and unacceptable phenomenon" with significant impacts on women, minors, and the social fabric of communities. The unit has already conducted investigations, arrests, and filed indictments related to polygamy and associated crimes.
