Criminal Feud Turns Jafnika Chain Into Target Amid Explosive Attacks Across Israel

The Jafnika convenience store chain and its owner, Barak Abramov, have remained silent as criminal elements have increasingly targeted the chain’s branches nationwide. The attacks began in Givatayim and spread to Kiryat Ono, Ramat Gan, and overnight reached stores in Netanya, Afula, and Herzliya. Police sources suspect the violence stems from a dispute between the Musli and Jarushi crime families, whose members hold franchise licenses from Abramov.

Abramov recently entered a partnership agreement with Leumi Partners, the investment arm of Bank Leumi, which will acquire about 20% of Landora Group, the parent company of Jafnika. Although Abramov, who also owns the Beitar Jerusalem football club, is not involved in criminal activity and is not a suspect, his connections to criminals have made Jafnika franchises targets. Previously, the Musli brothers were close to Abramov and reportedly supported his control over the Bnei Yehuda football club. However, as Abramov grew closer to the Jarushi family, the feud escalated, leading to retaliatory attacks on Jafnika stores.

The conflict intensified after the Musli family transferred control of their betting business to the Eran Hayya crime organization, which operates abroad, angering the Jarushi faction. Explosive devices, including grenade launchers, have been thrown not only at Jafnika branches but also at residences linked to the crime families. One grenade was mistakenly thrown at a private home in Shoham, and others exploded near residential buildings in Rishon Lezion and Or Yehuda, causing significant property damage and frightening residents.

Abramov has faced legal scrutiny in the past, including a 2018 arrest on suspicions of tax offenses and money laundering, though the case was closed without charges in 2021. In June 2023, he was robbed and assaulted at his home. Police investigations are ongoing, with the Tel Aviv district investigating the grenade attacks in Tel Aviv and Herzliya, focusing on the Yusli family, while the Central District Police probe incidents in Ness Ziona, Rishon Lezion, and Shoham. Authorities have yet to decide whether to consolidate the investigations under the national crime unit, Lahav 433.

Residents in affected areas report heightened fear and damage from the explosions, with some describing the incidents as severely undermining their sense of personal security. Local law enforcement continues to monitor the situation amid concerns that innocent civilians could be harmed as the criminal feud escalates.