Ramat Gan Cafe Set Ablaze for Third Time Over Saturday Opening Defies Threats

The Bendita cafe in Ramat Gan was set on fire for the third time early Wednesday morning, with the arson reported at 2:43 a.m. Surveillance footage shows masked individuals arriving at the location, igniting the business, and fleeing. Police have launched an investigation into the incident, with the suspected motive linked to the cafe's decision to remain open on Saturdays, a contentious issue in the area.

The cafe owner, Shaf, has been at the police station since the early hours filing another complaint. She revealed that prior to the arsons, she received verbal threats warning that businesses operating on Saturdays would be burned down. Despite the intimidation, Shaf remains resolute, stating she will continue to open on Saturdays and has even expanded the alcohol menu. "This does not deter me. We are fighting for our home, and you will lose," she declared.

Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen strongly condemned the arson attacks, labeling them hate crimes and affirming the city's commitment to liberal values and freedom. He announced plans to increase support for weekend-operating businesses, including financial backing for Bendita and leasing additional properties for cafes and entertainment venues open on weekends. "The goal was to break her and close the cafe, but the opposite will happen, it will grow stronger," the mayor said.

The investigation is ongoing, and the perpetrators have not yet been identified. The repeated attacks raise broader concerns about whether businesses can operate legally without becoming targets of intimidation, posing a challenge for law enforcement and local authorities to uphold public order and protect freedom of commerce in the city.