Senior cop under probe suspected of colluding with Nazareth ex-mayor, detectives say

Investigators suspect Manny Binyamin meddled with probe of Bakri crime family’s takeover of Nazareth city hall; lawyer says Lahav 433 chief’s link to politician ‘transparent and known’

Investigators revealed Wednesday that the head of Lahav 433, police’s high-profile investigative body, is suspected of maintaining ties with a former mayor of Nazareth while the ex-local politician was under investigation over alleged attempts by a crime family to take financial control of the municipality.

A gag order was lifted on the details of Deputy Commissioner Manny Binyamin’s case after police carried out overnight raids to arrest current and former officials from the Nazareth municipality, as well as members of the Bakri crime family.

In the wake of the raids, and the announcement of the investigation and undercover operation, the Department of Internal Police Investigations announced that Binyamin is suspected of acting with a conflict of interest due to his personal relationship with the now-detained former mayor of Nazareth, and even sharing police information with him. The former official was not named.

Investigators suspected that Binyamin, after realizing that evidence implicating him had been gathered in the Bakri family probe, worked with police officials in the north to transfer investigative materials to a unit subordinate to him in Lahav 433.

Police said earlier Wednesday that evidence indicated that Bakri crime family had “taken over the financial management of the municipality.” The officials detained are suspected of involvement in the transfer of large sums of money to members of criminal gang, to the detriment of the city and its residents.

Investigators in the Northern District police were searching for additional evidence in the offices of the Nazareth municipality compound.

Binyamin was first questioned in mid-November on suspicion that he illicitly interfered in the investigation into the Bakri family. Later, he was called in for another interrogation at the DIPI’s offices, related to suspicions that he tried to promote a relative to a senior position.

Uri Korb, Binyamin’s lawyer, called the DIPI’s suspicions against his client “baseless and embarrassing.”

“The relationship between Deputy Commissioner Binyamin and the former mayor was professional and transparent to everyone, and even continued on this professional basis so as not to harm the undercover investigation,” he said.

Korb claimed that meetings and phone calls held between Binyamin and the former mayor were “transparent and known.” Other senior officers also took part in some of the meetings, he added.

“The head of Lahav [433] was aware that the mayor was under investigation, with all that this implies,” Korb said, insisting that Binyamin had not disclosed any information to the official and on the contrary, oversaw the collection of evidence that led to his arrest.

Binyamin is being investigated on suspicion of breach of trust and abuse of office. He is banned from contacting individuals in the ongoing case.

In early December, just a day after being interrogated for a third time, Binyamin returned to his post at the helm of Lahav 433 with the strong backing of police chief Danny Levy.

Levy and other high-ranking police have voiced support for Binyamin ever since the scandal broke, claiming that the force needs him to continue his work heading the investigative body. Coalition lawmakers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have accused the DIPI of overseeing a political investigation into the officer.

Binyamin is one of the highest-ranking police officers in the country. He has been promoted in rank twice during Ben Gvir’s tenure. He assumed his most recent position as head of Lahav 433 in September 2024. It is his job to oversee high-profile investigations, many involving politicians and other public figures.