Beitar Jerusalem Owner Denies Football Link to Attacks on Japnika Chain

Barak Abramov, owner of Beitar Jerusalem football club, has reassured the team that recent attacks targeting his Japnika restaurant chain are unrelated to football. Following a series of violent incidents including grenade throws and arson at several Japnika branches, Abramov emphasized that these events are strictly connected to his business ventures outside of football. Police sources confirmed they are investigating leads and using technological means to clarify the situation, focusing solely on the business aspect and ruling out any connection to Beitar Jerusalem.

The attacks began with an arson at the Japnika branch in Givatayim, followed by grenade attacks on locations in Or Yehuda and Kiryat Ono, and a bomb placed at a branch in Ramat Gan. Authorities are currently examining whether these incidents are linked. Abramov has fully cooperated with investigators throughout the inquiry.

Abramov founded an investment group in 2006 that owns several restaurant chains, including Japnika. In 2015, he acquired full ownership of Japnika, which operates about 20 branches, for 50 million shekels. In May 2026, he sold 20% of his investment group in a deal expected to inject approximately 200 million shekels into his holdings.