Israeli politics was rocked on Monday, September 15, 2025, as police raided the Jerusalem offices of Social Equality and Advancement of Women Minister May Golan, arresting a former aide and detaining several associates in a fast-widening corruption probe. The operation, led by the elite Lahav 433 National Fraud Investigation Unit, marks a dramatic escalation in a months-long investigation that has already sent shockwaves through the country’s political establishment.
According to The Media Line and Israel Hayom, officers descended on multiple locations early Monday, including the ministry’s headquarters and the homes of current and former staffers. The most sensational discovery came in Yavne, where police searching the home of Golan’s chief of staff stumbled upon a fully equipped drug laboratory—specifically, an illegal marijuana grow operation. Channel 12 reported that the plants belonged to the aide’s husband, and both were arrested on the spot.
The investigation, which began several months ago, centers on grave suspicions: fraud, misuse of public funds, fictitious employment, and the concealment of funding sources through associations and government frameworks. Police allege that ministry employees and allied individuals diverted public funds for private use, created fake jobs, and used nonprofit organizations and government mechanisms to hide the true flow of money. As Israel Hayom noted, the probe has now entered a very public phase, with all suspects taken for interrogation at Lahav 433 headquarters.
Among those arrested was a lawyer who previously served as Golan’s parliamentary aide. This individual was expected to appear later the same day before the Rishon LeZion Magistrate’s Court for a remand hearing—a sign that authorities are moving swiftly to secure evidence and prevent obstruction of justice. Police sources, cited by The Media Line, emphasized the urgency of the investigation, underscoring their determination to “accelerate the probe to prevent obstruction of justice.”
The roots of the scandal trace back to a Channel 12 exposé, which alleged that Golan handed out jobs to close associates, directed parliamentary aides to run personal errands, and misused ministry budgets for private benefit. These claims, initially dismissed by some as political mudslinging, gained traction as investigators uncovered a growing web of financial irregularities and questionable employment practices.
Evidence gathered so far includes a recording in which Golan is heard describing one of her aides as “a personal assistant who can handle all my errands, absolutely everything.” This detail, reported by The Media Line, has fueled suspicions that ministry resources were routinely diverted for personal use. Other names have surfaced in connection with the case, including Golan’s chief of staff, Ofir Aminof, and Likud activist Haim Menachem. Menachem allegedly received financial benefits from the ministry and allowed Golan to use his credit card for personal food deliveries—another apparent breach of ethical standards.
State Attorney Amit Aisman and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara have both signed off on the criminal investigation into Golan, which now includes suspicions of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Police sources confirmed that these top legal officials approved opening the probe after reviewing the mounting evidence. The involvement of such high-level figures signals the gravity with which authorities are treating the case.
Minister Golan, for her part, has denied any wrongdoing. In a statement released through her attorney, she insisted that “apart from noise and theatrics there is no case and no offense,” and went on to accuse Attorney General Baharav-Miara of acting out of a conflict of interest. Despite having previously failed to appear for a scheduled interrogation, Golan was expected to be questioned under caution later on Monday, according to The Media Line.
The political fallout has been swift and severe. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, eyeing a possible return to politics, seized on the scandal to launch a blistering attack on the Netanyahu-led government. In a statement quoted by The Times of Israel, Bennett declared, “The current government is crooked from top to bottom, a rot that is spreading to all parts of the public sector. When Qatari employees sit in the prime minister’s office in the midst of a war, it is not surprising that a drug den is exposed in the office of another minister.” He added, “Woe to the nation that is forced to see its children grow up facing such a rotten role model. Israel will soon embark on a new path.”
Bennett’s remarks highlight the deepening public frustration with corruption and ethical lapses at the highest levels of government. The fact that criminal proceedings are currently underway against 10 members of the governing coalition, as reported by Israel Hayom, only adds to the sense of crisis. For many Israelis, the latest revelations serve as a troubling reminder of the challenges facing the country’s political system, where allegations of fraud, bribery, and misuse of public funds have become all too common.
Yet, even as the investigation unfolds, the details remain murky. Police have so far refrained from releasing the full list of suspects or providing a comprehensive account of the alleged financial schemes. However, the discovery of the drug laboratory at the home of a senior adviser has added a sensational twist to an already explosive story. Photographs released by the police, showing rows of marijuana plants, have circulated widely on social media, fueling speculation and outrage.
Observers note that the case against Golan and her associates is likely to drag on for months, with prosecutors sifting through a mountain of financial records, employment contracts, and correspondence. The involvement of multiple ministries, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals means that the investigation could widen further, ensnaring additional figures in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the political stakes couldn’t be higher. With public trust in government already at a low ebb, the Golan affair threatens to further erode confidence in Israel’s leaders. For supporters of the current coalition, the scandal is a painful setback—one that opponents like Bennett are eager to exploit. For ordinary Israelis, it’s another chapter in a long-running saga of political intrigue and accountability, with no clear end in sight.
As the remand hearings proceed and Minister Golan faces questioning under caution, all eyes will be on the next moves from police and prosecutors. Will this probe mark a turning point in the fight against corruption? Or will it fade into the background, overshadowed by the next political crisis? For now, the nation waits—and watches, hoping for answers and, perhaps, a measure of justice.
