''Borrowed character': An extraordinary impersonation case, defined by the police as "the longest in the 78 years of the state," was exposed in the past 24 hours with the arrest of several suspects by the "Arrow of Judah" unit.
The investigation, which began covertly at the end of 2025, revealed a well-oiled mechanism of 'identity borrowing', which allowed a Palestinian couple to lead a full Israeli lifestyle for 20 years.
According to suspicion, the main suspect, 57 years old, a Palestinian from Malhul with a family reunification permit, and his 43-year-old wife, hatched a plan to obtain Israeli identity.
About 20 years ago, a few months after they got married, they were supposedly divorced "on paper," and then the man "married" an Israeli citizen and resident of Aror named A. - a woman he had never met.
The couple "impersonated" A.'s identity on the Palestinian woman, and since then the suspect has lived under the name and details of the Israeli citizen, except for her photo - which they bought.
Over the past twenty years, the family has led a double life: After the suspects later remarried, they lived in Rahat in Israel as Israeli citizens for all intents and purposes, established businesses and received pensions and benefits from the National Insurance Institute. Their children were born at Soroka Hospital and registered as Israelis.
The Palestinian Authority maintained a luxurious house in Halhul, where the woman continued to be called by her original name among her extended family, who were secret partners in the plot.
For example, when the family was staying in their luxurious home in the town of Halhul, the main suspect was called S. by her family members, while outside the town, while they were staying in Rahat and among her circle of acquaintances, they called her A.
In a joint operation by the Sha'ar District, the Southern District, and the IDF, forces raided the family's homes, arrested the couple and two other family members, and detained additional suspects for questioning.
The couple's detention was extended in court until this coming Sunday, while police and National Insurance investigators continue to collect evidence in the case.
Lt. Col. Barak Revivo, commander of the intelligence branch of the 'Arrow of Judah' unit: "This is one of the cases of impersonation and fraud that have lasted for over twenty years, and it appears that this is the longest impersonation under a false identity that the State of Israel has known throughout its 78 years of existence.".
""After months of joint activity and undercover investigation with National Insurance investigators, this became public when detectives from the 'Arrow' unit, with the assistance of additional forces, raided the homes of the main suspects and their families, arrested them, and detained others.".
""Although we are at the beginning of the open investigation stages, one of the main goals is to reveal, among other things, what happened to that girl A., whose identity was acquired by the pair of main suspects.".
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