Jdeideh-Makr Council Head Demands Shin Bet Probe After Assassination Attempt Leaves Him Paralyzed

Suhail Malham, head of the Jdeideh-Makr local council, spoke publicly for the first time since an assassination attempt on him nearly two months ago. Malham was shot at close range outside a wedding hall on May 17, leaving him severely injured and confined to a wheelchair in the rehabilitation department of Nahariya Medical Center. He described the physical and emotional toll of his injuries, including three bullets lodged in his legs, one damaging a major artery, and a fractured left thigh replaced with plates. Despite ongoing physical therapy, he remains unable to fully walk and fears for his safety as the suspects remain at large.

Malham asserts the attack was politically motivated, aimed at seizing control of the council ahead of upcoming elections. He rejected theories involving family disputes, personal conflicts, or criminal gangs, emphasizing that a small faction in the town seeks power through violence because they cannot win democratically. He revealed he contacted President Isaac Herzog, urging the involvement of the Shin Bet security service in the investigation, which he believes is straightforward to solve.

The police investigation, led by the Coastal District Central Unit, has detained several suspects, including two brothers, but no indictments have been filed yet. Malham’s deputy, Ovid Ovid, was also wounded in the shooting. Malham expressed concern about returning home while the assailants remain free, warning they could strike again against him or his family. He affirmed his commitment to return stronger, buoyed by increased public support since the attack. The incident is part of a series of attacks targeting Arab local leaders, seen as assaults on symbols of authority in the community.