The mayor of Ashkelon, Tomer Glam, is under investigation on suspicion of corruption involving millions of shekels in donations given to the city during the war, when it was under heavy and sustained rocket fire from Gaza, police said.
According to investigators, donations from sources at home and abroad were raised to support residents during the fighting and were transferred to a community fund controlled by the municipality. Police suspect that millions of shekels were later diverted from the fund for the personal benefit of Glam and close associates, including aides and department heads.
Glam was detained for questioning early Monday at a hotel in Eilat, where he had been attending an annual conference of municipal treasurers. A day earlier, he spoke at the conference about public responsibility, saying: “When it’s your money, do what you want with it. When it’s public money, you must act with great responsibility.”
Police allege that business owners submitted invoices for services or goods that were never provided during the war. Those invoices were paid from the community fund, and part of the money was allegedly returned to Glam and his associates in cash or other benefits. Investigators said some businesses were listed as supplying products they did not actually deal in. Authorities are also examining whether business owners who benefited financially from their ties to the mayor made improper campaign donations in recent elections.
Glam was released after questioning and placed under house arrest for five days. He was also barred from entering city hall for a week. The suspected offenses include bribery, fraud, breach of trust, theft by an authorized person and money laundering.
Eleven people were detained for questioning in the case and later released under restrictions. They include two department heads at city hall, two aides, a driver and four business owners. Glam’s wife was also questioned and released. Investigators are examining services she allegedly provided to residents during the war, funded by the Ashkelon community fund. She has denied any wrongdoing.
Searches were carried out at municipal offices and at the offices of the community fund.
Glam has denied the allegations. His lawyers said he cooperated fully with investigators and will prove that the suspicions against him are unfounded. A lawyer representing a senior municipal official said the investigation was baseless.
The investigation follows a petition filed before the probe by city council member Eva Totai, who raised concerns over irregularities in the handling of war-related donations. She petitioned the Beersheba District Court after the municipality refused to provide documents related to donations collected since the outbreak of the fighting, which totaled about 26 million shekels.
Totai said the city reported receiving about 17.26 million shekels in donations for residents affected by the war, while roughly 20 million shekels were actually used, leaving an unexplained gap of about 2.5 million shekels. She questioned whether the funds were distributed according to fair criteria and without conflicts of interest.
After a court hearing in December, the fund managing the donations agreed to provide the requested information, and the petition was withdrawn. Investigators are now examining whether the issues raised in the petition form part of a broader pattern of alleged misconduct linked to the mayor’s control of the community fund.