Police arrested a Palestinian couple on Wednesday on suspicion of living under a false Israeli identity for over 20 years, in the longest-lasting case of identity fraud known to authorities.

The couple led a double life between the West Bank and Rahat, a Bedouin city in the Negev, and had several children born in Israel, according to police.

“It appears this is the longest-running case of impersonation under a fake identity that Israel has known over its 78 years of existence,” said Supt. Barak Revivo, a West Bank District police detective.

Police believe the 57-year-old husband, from the West Bank city of Halhul, possessed a family reunification permit that allowed him to reside periodically in Rahat. These temporary permits, given to Palestinian family members of Israeli citizens, do not grant formal residency status.

The man married his wife, a 43-year-old from the same West Bank city, over two decades ago, and the pair resolved to fraudulently obtain an identity card that would allow them to live together in Israel.

As part of the scheme, the couple allegedly........

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