State Audit Reveals Corruption Allegations and Financial Irregularities in Holon Municipality

A recent State Comptroller report has uncovered a three million shekel deficit in the election campaign of Holon Mayor Shay Kinnin, alongside a series of controversial appointments of his associates within the municipality and its subsidiaries. The report details that Kinnin spent nearly seven million shekels on his campaign, while only raising four million shekels in revenue. Shortly after the elections, his campaign manager, Haim Greidinger, was awarded a strategic consulting contract worth six million shekels over five years by the municipality.

Opposition leader Moran Israel criticized these appointments, accusing Kinnin of turning the city into a "job arrangement for associates" and labeling the campaign manager's lucrative contract as a conflict of interest and corruption. The selection committee for Greidinger's contract included Kinnin appointees, raising further concerns. Legal expert Ayala Honigman emphasized the need for transparency and disclosure in such cases.

Additional controversies include the appointment of Ayelet Cohen, Kinnin's third-ranked candidate, as CEO of the Economic Company immediately after the elections, a position she left within a year but continued to receive a salary for a fictitious role. Furthermore, Ophir Ohhel, ranked 11th on Kinnin's list, received significant rent discounts for his wife's studio in a municipal park, a benefit not extended to other businesses.

Several other candidates from Kinnin's list have been integrated into municipal roles, including Nitzan Sitbon as chair of the infrastructure committee, Aviv Fargion in the events department, and Zohar Neumark as deputy mayor despite his private accounting practice. Additionally, Einav Bashari-Kaplan continues to advise Kinnin despite a Ministry of Interior directive to cease her volunteer consultancy.

In total, seven candidates from Kinnin's list are currently employed with public funds. The Holon municipality rejected the allegations, asserting all activities comply with legal and administrative regulations. Greidinger's consultancy firm denied the claims, and Sitbon stated her company has no business activities in Holon.