Rishon Zion

The Holon Interchange Explosion and the Arrest of Chen Cohen

The attack occurred during rush hour on the Ayalon Highway, where a half-kilogram explosive device detonated under the driver’s seat of the vehicle driven by 35-year-old Liha Ofri Malka. According to reporting from Walla News, the blast was so powerful that Malka had no chance of survival, and emergency crews pronounced her dead at the scene. The subsequent arrest of the primary suspect, Chen Cohen of Rishon Zion, followed a bizarre sequence of events. Shortly after the explosion, Cohen arrived at a police station to inquire about what had happened. He was arrested on the spot. Investigators from the Central District’s Central Investigation Unit (YAMAR) believe this was not a lone-wolf operation. The precision of the hit—using a specialized explosive device—suggests Cohen utilized the expertise and resources of organized crime syndicates to carry out the assassination. He is currently held in custody following a detention extension by the Petah Tikva Magistrate’s Court on charges of planned murder and conspiracy.

Contradictory Alibis and ‘Problematic’ Versions

During police interrogations, Cohen has denied any involvement in the killing. His defense rests on a domestic alibi, claiming he never left his residence on the night of the crime. “I slept at home that night. My grandmother was with me. Ask her. Take security cameras. I didn’t leave the house.” Cohen, suspect in the Malka murder, via Mako Cohen further claimed to be devastated by the event, noting that his own daughter was left without a mother. While he acknowledged existing conflicts with Malka’s family, he maintained that such disputes do not equate to murder. “I have no connection to the murder. I didn’t kill Liha. I would never do such a thing in my life. I am shocked by what happened. My daughter was left without a mother. It’s true there were arguments and conflicts with her family members, but from there to murder? I don’t know who killed her. I hope you catch him.” Cohen, suspect in the Malka murder, via Mako Police are not convinced. Sources familiar with the investigation told Mako that Cohen’s testimony is inconsistent. Specifically, while he recalls some details, he claimed to have no memory of his actions during critical hours leading up to the murder. Investigators have since seized security footage from Cohen’s neighborhood and Malka’s home to track the movements of whoever planted the device.

Warnings Ignored: The Family’s Claim of a Preventable Tragedy

For the family of Liha Malka, the bombing was not a sudden event but the climax of a prolonged campaign of terror. Tom Nissani, Malka’s cousin, described a pattern of severe threats directed not only at Liha but also at her parents and brother. Nissani reports that Cohen’s harassment escalated from verbal threats to physical intimidation, including the slashing of tires and the appearance of known criminals to frighten the family. In a particularly harrowing detail, Nissani noted that Malka’s two-year-old daughter was not in the car during the blast, describing her absence as a miracle within the disaster. The family is now voicing sharp criticism of law enforcement, alleging that the authorities failed to act on prior warnings. A source close to the family suggested that the signs were obvious. “The address was smeared in red on the wall. If they had dealt seriously and severely with the complaints filed by Yaakov, Liha’s father, the murder could have been prevented.” Family source, via Mako Nissani echoed this sentiment on social media, stating that the suspect continued to move freely and plan the attack despite the filed complaints.

The Spillover of Organized Crime into Civilian Spaces

The use of a car bomb on a major metropolitan artery like the Ayalon Highway signals a dangerous shift in the nature of domestic violence and criminal enforcement in Israel. This case highlights a growing trend where personal vendettas are outsourced to professional criminal organizations. Analysis from Haaretz suggests that the violence seen in this case is an extension of the unchecked growth of crime syndicates in cities like Nazareth, Rahat, Lod, and Umm al-Fahim. The argument is that organized crime—characterized by illegal weapons and explosive devices—does not respect municipal borders or ethnic divides. When a private citizen can “hire” the capability to plant a professional-grade bomb in a public space, the threat moves from a localized family dispute to a systemic security failure. The stakes are no longer just about domestic safety, but about the proliferation of military-grade assassination tools within the general population. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on bridging the gap between Cohen’s denials and the forensic evidence. Defense attorneys Amir Kamchi and Rais Abu Saif maintain that their client is innocent and will be released once the investigation concludes. Meanwhile, Malka’s family is mobilizing to raise her young daughter, while continuing to demand accountability for the warnings they claim were ignored.

Find more reporting in our News section.