Criminal10/19/2026

Mazid Hamdan Convicted of Bribing an Adviser to Reuven Rivlin

The Haifa District Court convicted Mazid Hamdan of giving a bribe to Ze'ev Dolinsky, the former senior personal adviser to the President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin. The conviction is based on Hamdan's confession as part of a plea bargain and an amended indictment.

Key facts

•Court: Haifa District Court
•Publication and decision date: October 19, 2026
•Amount transferred: at least 6,000 shekels
•Period of the money transfers: 2018–2020
•Position agreed upon by the parties: 6.5 months of community service
•The case number is not stated in the source

Essence of the Charge

According to the amended indictment, Hamdan helped individuals handle their affairs before state authorities, sometimes for payment. He exploited his long-standing acquaintance with Dolinsky, which developed during their joint activity in the Likud party, to advance his own economic interests and those of his clients.

Transfer of Funds and Assistance from a Public Servant

During the years 2018–2020, Hamdan transferred at least 6,000 shekels to Dolinsky in exchange for assistance in approaching state authorities and public institutions. The matters concerned, among other things, planning and construction, licenses, permits to enter Israel, and the medical field. According to the indictment, Dolinsky used his public position and his connections with government representatives for this purpose.

Another Matter in the Case

Hamdan also worked with another defendant in the case, Marwan Rayan. According to the prosecution materials, they intended to bribe Dolinsky to arrange a new review of the results of Ministry of Health qualification examinations that two of that person's relatives had failed.

The Court's Decision and the Expected Sentence

Haifa District Court Judge Mohammed Ali convicted Hamdan of giving a bribe based on his confession. The parties agreed to request a sentence of six and a half months' imprisonment to be served through community service, in addition to a suspended prison sentence and a fine in an amount to be determined by the court. The source does not indicate that a final sentence has already been imposed on Hamdan.

Related Proceeding

Another person involved in the case, Nissim Cohen, had previously been convicted of accepting bribes on several occasions and of money laundering. The District Court sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, but the Supreme Court reduced the term on appeal to 22 months; he was also given a suspended prison sentence and a fine.

What this means for you

The case illustrates that transferring money in exchange for the use of governmental powers or connections with government entities may result in criminal liability for giving a bribe, even when the assistance concerns administrative or medical matters or licensing issues. A plea bargain and guilty plea do not replace the judicial decision; the court separately determines the person's conviction and final sentence.

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Case analysis based on court rulings