Criminal9/17/2026

Afula Resident Charged in Planned Attack on Man on His Way to Pray

The State Attorney’s Office filed an indictment against Shlomi Haim, 39, for attacking a 66-year-old Afula resident who was on his way to Shacharit prayers and the recitation of Selichot. According to the indictment, the victim was sprayed with an incapacitating substance and stabbed repeatedly with a sharp object.

Key facts

•Defendant: Shlomi Haim, 39, Afula
•Victim: 66-year-old Afula resident
•Incident: August 25, at around 4:30 a.m.
•Court: Nazareth District Court in Nof HaGalil
•Arrest: About two days later
•The case number and charges were not stated

The Prosecution’s Account

According to the indictment, Haim decided in advance to cause the victim serious injury, disability or disfigurement. On August 25, at around 4:30 a.m., he allegedly waited near a bus stop close to the victim’s home, wearing a head covering and a mask, and carrying an incapacitating spray and a sharp object.

The Attack and Its Consequences

When the man left his home and approached his car, the defendant, according to the State Attorney’s Office, sprayed him with the substance and wounded him in the shoulder and chest. The attack continued inside the car: the victim was wounded in his limbs and palms, and then pretended to be dead. He was taken to HaEmek Medical Center in serious condition, with arterial bleeding, a fractured thumb and deep cuts; he required emergency treatment, stitches and prolonged hospitalization.

Attempt to Cover His Tracks

According to the indictment, after the attack Haim entered a nearby shelter, changed his clothes and discarded the stained clothing, the spray and the knife in a trash container in order to obstruct the investigation and the legal proceedings. He then put on his original clothes and left while appearing to be an ultra-Orthodox Jew. Police arrested him about two days later.

What to Expect in Court

The indictment was filed by the Northern District Attorney’s Office with the Nazareth District Court in Nof HaGalil. The motive for the attack is not specified in it; the account presented in the report regarding a possible connection to another criminal case remained a suspicion held by investigators, which the defendant categorically denies. The source does not state the case number, the precise charges, the applicable statute or any court decision on the merits.

What this means for you

The filing of the indictment marks the beginning of the criminal proceedings in court, not the defendant’s conviction. The State Attorney’s Office must prove the detailed allegations in court; the outcome of the proceedings and the possible sentence are not stated in the source.

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Case analysis based on court rulings