Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Ramming, Stabbing Biker Over Family Dispute

Police have filed charges against a 25-year-old man from the northern village of Umm al-Ghanam for allegedly attempting to run over a motorcyclist and then stabbing him in the head. The victim was hospitalized at HaEmek Medical Center in Afula. Investigators from the Tavor police station determined the incident stemmed from a dispute over arrests made in connection with an accidental death in the village.

The accused, Tamir Salafiti, faces charges including assault with a weapon, illegal possession of a knife, threats, and reckless driving. The case will be heard at the Nazareth Magistrate's Court.

According to Sergeant Major Aluma Abramovich, the victim was sitting on his motorcycle at the side of the road when Salafiti allegedly drove a large commercial vehicle up to him, threatened him, and tried to ram him. The victim narrowly escaped by jumping off his motorcycle into the road. As the victim held onto the driver's door to prevent Salafiti from exiting the vehicle, Salafiti allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the head from inside the car.

Investigators learned that close relatives of the accused were arrested on suspicion of accidentally killing the victim's cousin. Since their arrest, the accused and his family have allegedly been harassing the victim's family and the deceased cousin. Abramovich noted that the victim had no connection to the dispute and insisted his cousin's death was accidental, not intentional. She described the situation as absurd, with the accused's family targeting relatives of the deceased due to arrests for an accidental death, despite no prior conflict between the families.

Salafiti's former attorney, Arty Ergov, stated that his client denies all charges and believes the police failed to gather evidence that would lead to a different conclusion. He expressed hope for his client's swift release from custody, citing harsh detention conditions.