Election Campaign Collides with Criminal Trial for Knesset Candidate Yosef Haddad
Yosef Haddad, a candidate in Israel's upcoming elections, has requested a delay in his criminal trial, citing campaign commitments. Prosecutors and co-defendant counsel have strongly opposed the motion.
The upcoming Knesset elections have intersected with the criminal trial of Yosef Haddad, the number two candidate on the Amich Yisrael party list, who has requested a postponement of his court hearing scheduled for this coming Sunday, citing his full-time commitment to his election campaign.
The request has sparked sharp opposition from the defense attorney representing the second defendant in the case, while the prosecution has also urged the court to proceed with the hearing as planned. The parties are now awaiting a decision from Judge Yaron Gat of the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court.
Charges and Background
An indictment was filed against Haddad in August 2025, charging him with reckless and negligent use of a firearm following an alleged shooting incident during a traffic altercation in Tel Aviv. Alongside him, Ibrahim Shorfi, the scooter rider involved in the altercation, was charged with assault after allegedly spitting at Haddad through his car window. The trial has been ongoing for over a year, and prosecutors maintain that following numerous delays, it is time to advance the proceedings.
In his motion, Haddad's defense attorney, Efraim Damari, noted that the elections are set to take place in about two weeks and that his client is devoting all his time to the campaign. "The defendant is completely immersed in the election campaign, and all his time and energy are invested in this effort," he wrote, adding that Haddad would be unable to attend the hearing or dedicate full attention to it.
Opposition from Co-Defendant and Prosecution
Ramzi Katilat, the attorney representing Shorfi, strongly objected to the request, writing in a court filing that "Defendant 2 has no interest in Defendant 1's election campaign or his activities related to it." He argued that running for office should not serve as an excuse to adjust court dates to suit a candidate's political needs.
"The phenomenon where public figures facing criminal charges attempt to subordinate or bend legal proceedings to fit their political needs is a disturbing trend that the court is expected not to facilitate, just as it is not done for ordinary defendants," Katilat wrote. The prosecution echoed these sentiments, with prosecutor Gal Austriak stating that the age of the case and the history of prior delays dictate that the proceedings must move forward without further postponement.
The Incident
The case stems from an incident in July 2025 on Ben Atar Street in Tel Aviv. According to the indictment, Haddad was driving while legally carrying a Smith & Wesson handgun. Shorfi, riding a scooter, passed him on the left, leading to a verbal dispute over driving behavior. The altercation escalated when Shorfi allegedly rode back toward Haddad's car and spat inside. Prosecutors state that Haddad then drew his weapon and fired a single shot into the street as Shorfi drove away.
