Criminal8/31/2026

Man Charged After Threatening to Detonate an Explosive Device Near Netanyahu’s Home

According to Ynet, Mahmoud Abd al-Majid, 28, of Ilut, called the police’s 100 emergency hotline 14 times in a single night and threatened to carry out attacks. The indictment also links him to assaults on two passengers aboard a Metronit bus in Haifa.

Key facts

•Defendant: Mahmoud Abd al-Majid, 28, a resident of Ilut
•A series of 14 calls began after midnight on August 12
•He is accused of 14 counts of making threats and offenses related to assaults and causing damage
•The prosecution is seeking his detention until the conclusion of the proceedings
•The source did not state the case number, the court, or the date on which the indictment was filed

What Happened

The series of calls began after midnight on August 12. According to the police allegation, the caller gave his name, claimed to possess an M-16 rifle and a handgun, and threatened Jews, Arabs, the police, and the prime minister. Among other things, he said that he had planted an explosive device near Benjamin Netanyahu’s home and also threatened to carry out a bombing at the Haifa police station.

The Metronit Assaults

According to the prosecution’s account, the man then arrived in Haifa and, at 06:17, assaulted a passenger on a Metronit bus: he struck him with his hands, knocked him to the ground, and tore his clothes off during the altercation. Afterward, according to the allegation, he assaulted another passenger, returned to Ilut by public transportation, and was arrested at his home by Nazareth police.

The Indictment and Detention

The indictment was filed by attorney Avraham Bigman of the police prosecution unit in the Valleys District. It includes 14 counts of making threats, as well as common assault, assault causing actual bodily harm, and intentional damage to a vehicle. The police requested that the defendant remain in custody until the conclusion of the legal proceedings; the source does not state the court’s decision on this request.

The Defense’s Position

The defendant is represented by attorney Aboudi Fahoum of the Public Defender’s Office. The defense stated that it would respond to the charges after receiving the investigation materials, would oppose detention until the conclusion of the proceedings, and would seek the man’s release under an appropriate rehabilitation program. The court must determine whether the defendant is guilty.

What this means for you

Telephone threats in Israel can lead to criminal proceedings even without information indicating that an explosive device was actually found: emergency services treat such reports as if they were genuine. If the defendant is also accused of assault or causing damage, those incidents may also be included in the same indictment. The mere filing of an indictment does not mean that the person has been convicted.

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