Israel attorney general probes MK over misconduct allegations

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Aisman have authorised an investigation into Social Equality Minister May Golan of Likud, the Times of Israel reported.

The decision follows a television exposé alleging misconduct in her office, including widespread nepotism and questionable fundraising practices at a nonprofit organisation she founded.

The prosecutors’ decision sparked a sharp backlash from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, which accused the officials of politically motivated targeting. Likud pointed to recent legal actions, including the probe into Netanyahu’s wife for allegedly trying to intimidate a witness in his corruption case and the indictment of three senior aides for similar offenses, as evidence of selective enforcement.

“The attorney general is acting as the opposition’s legal arm and is engaged in a witch hunt and political persecution of the government and the prime minister,” Likud claimed in a statement, further accusing Baharav-Miara of being “the legal adviser for toppling the government.”

According to the Times of Israel, May Golan has not yet responded to the allegations, though she has previously denied any wrongdoing. Channel 12 News, which aired the investigative report last month, stated that police have recently questioned several of Golan’s associates in connection with the probe.

The Channel 12 report detailed allegations of nepotism in Golan’s office, claiming she hired multiple individuals with personal or political ties — some of whom reportedly performed little to no actual work. Golan, a vocal right-wing figure, was also accused of mismanaging funds within her nonprofit, the Hebrew City, which focused on anti-migrant activism.

Additionally, the report alleged that Golan misused parliamentary aides, directing them to run personal errands for her, including driving her mother, purchasing food, collecting packages, and distributing gifts to friends, which would violate Knesset protocol.

READ: Israel State Prosecutor begins criminal investigation of Netanyahu’s wife