"You ruined us, you pig": How they tried to assassinate a mayor in Israel

N12 magazine reveals the investigation materials of the attempted murder of Arraba Mayor Dr. Ahmed Nassar in March 2026. The suspect, Kamal Wakad, confessed to a police informant about a financial dispute over garbage tenders, but in official questioning denied it and claimed he loves the mayor. His trial opened this week.

On March 8, 2026, during Ramadan, Arraba Mayor Dr. Ahmed Nassar was shot at the "Taksim" bakery in the city. The masked gunman entered through the back door, shouted at those present, and fired five bullets into Nassar's lower body. The mayor's friend, Dr. Anwar Yassin, was wounded in the leg. Nassar was classified as a threatened elected official at level 6, but at the time was without security. The suspect, Kamal Wakad (25), was arrested. In questioning before a police informant in the detention cell, Wakad confessed that a sense of economic betrayal motivated him after the municipality canceled a contract with his family for garbage removal. He described a family meeting where the decision to eliminate the mayor was made. However, in his official interrogations, Wakad denied any involvement, claiming he loves the mayor and would not shoot someone he loves. When investigators played the confession recordings, he claimed he was under the influence of drugs and that the statements were "abu ali" – bravado. His trial opened on November 5, 2026.