Haifa Court Convicts Likud Activist of Bribing Rivlin’s Adviser

Money in Exchange for Assistance from Public Officials

According to the amended indictment, in 2018 Hamdan transferred at least 6,000 shekels to Dolinsky in two payments of 3,000 shekels each. The money was transferred for cash withdrawal through the Postal Bank. In return, Dolinsky used his connections in government ministries and public institutions to help advance requests submitted by Hamdan and his clients.

Which Requests Were Advanced

The requests concerned, among other things, a grant of 250,000 shekels for a physician working in the periphery, the establishment of a gas station in Yarka-Jatt, and the renewal of Hamdan’s hunting rifle license. Entry permits and visas, obtaining an Israeli passport, and acceptance for an internship in the ophthalmology department at the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya were also mentioned. The report did not claim that the physician’s grant was received, while the internship application was rejected.

Another Incident

The second count relates to an attempt to assist the son and niece of teacher Marwan Rayan, who did not pass the Ministry of Health’s occupational therapy licensing examinations. Hamdan introduced Rayan to Dolinsky and instructed him to transfer money to the adviser; the exact amount is unknown to the prosecution. The attempts to have the examination results reviewed did not produce the desired outcome.

Sentence Has Yet to Be Imposed

Judge Mohammed Ali convicted Hamdan based on his confession. The parties agreed to request six and a half months’ imprisonment to be served through community service, a suspended prison sentence, and a fine whose amount would be determined by the court. This agreement reflects the parties’ position: as of the source’s publication date, the final sentence had not yet been imposed.

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