Yoseph Haddad faces indictment after firing a warning shot during a heated confrontation he claims was fueled by anti-Israel hatred, not road rage.
In a case that’s ignited fierce public debate, the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Thursday received an explosive indictment against renowned Arab-Israeli hasbara activist Yoseph Haddad, 39, and Ibrahim Shurfi, 23, following a volatile roadside confrontation that escalated into spitting, shouting, and gunfire.
The State Prosecutor’s Office, through the Tel Aviv District Attorney, charged Haddad with reckless handling of a firearm, while Shurfi faces charges of assault. The courtroom drama centers around a fiery encounter where politics, identity, and security appear to collide.
According to the prosecution, the incident unfolded when Shurfi aggressively overtook Haddad’s vehicle. Tempers flared. Shurfi reportedly circled back on his scooter, pulling up alongside Haddad’s car and hurling verbal abuse. In response, Haddad, a licensed gun owner and public figure often in the crosshairs of anti-Israel hostility, shouted at Shurfi to back off while visibly cocking his handgun near his legs—an act prosecutors say lacked justification.
Matters spiraled when Shurfi allegedly spat through Haddad’s window and sped off. Moments later, a single gunshot rang out—fired, the prosecution claims, recklessly into the air by Haddad.
But Haddad tells a different story.
According to his legal team, this wasn’t about road rage—it was a targeted assault driven by nationalist hate. Attorney Efraim Damari stated, “Yoseph Haddad has long been a target because of his unwavering advocacy for the State of Israel. He acted out of fear after being cursed, threatened, and physically attacked by someone who knew exactly who he was.”
Following the incident, Haddad was detained and placed under house arrest, which was extended by three days on Monday to allow further investigation. The presiding judge acknowledged there was “reasonable suspicion” regarding illegal shooting and issuing threats in a populated area.
The prosecution is now pushing to tighten conditions on both men, citing the gravity of the gunfire and physical assault as justification for increasing bail amounts.
Haddad, a well-known voice in the pro-Israel Arab community, maintains his innocence—and insists he did what he had to in a moment of genuine fear.
