High-profile case10/27/2026

Rishon LeZion Deputy Mayor Waived the Publication Ban on His Name

Rishon LeZion Deputy Mayor Avi Haim announced that he was the person questioned on suspicion of sexual offenses against a municipal employee. He voluntarily waived the publication ban on his name, denies committing an offense, and claims that the relations were consensual.

Key facts

•Person involved in the affair: Deputy Mayor Avi Haim
•Court: Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court
•Original publication: October 27, 2026
•Barred from the municipal building: 30 days
•The materials are under review by the State Attorney's Office

What Is at the Heart of the Dispute

A municipal employee, who serves as the secretary of another senior official and does not report directly to Haim, claimed that several years ago he committed sexual offenses against her in his office. According to her account, because of Haim's senior position, she could not refuse him. Haim does not deny that they had relations, but insists that they were consensual and calls the complaint false.

Why the Name Was Disclosed

The Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court was due to consider a request to disclose the suspect's identity. However, after consulting attorney Ofer Almog, Haim himself waived the publication ban applying to his name. A statement issued on his behalf said that he expects the competent authorities to uncover the truth and that the case will be closed.

What Happened After the Investigation

Information about the affair was first published in August. Following the investigation, Haim was barred from entering the municipal building for 30 days, after which he returned to work. The investigation materials were transferred to the State Attorney's Office for an examination of the evidence and a decision on further steps.

No Decision Has Yet Been Made on Filing an Indictment

The central question in the case is whether there was consent: the parties present conflicting accounts of the events. The State Attorney's Office has not yet decided whether the materials collected justify filing an indictment. The source does not report that an indictment has been filed or that a judicial ruling has been issued on the merits of the suspicions.

What this means for you

Waiving the publication ban means only that the suspect's name has been disclosed; it does not confirm that the suspicions are substantiated. The decision whether to file an indictment rests with the State Attorney's Office, and unless and until his guilt is established in court, the suspect is not considered guilty. In cases of this kind, the assessment of consent may be highly significant, given the professional positions of those involved.

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