Barak Abramov Breaks Silence on Crime Family Allegations Amid Restaurant Attacks

Barak Abramov, owner of Japanika restaurant chain and Beitar Jerusalem football club, addressed allegations linking him to crime families following a series of violent attacks on his restaurants. Over the past week, nine Japanika branches were targeted with 17 grenades, explosives, and arson attempts, which police suspect stem from a feud between the Jerushi and Musli crime families. In an exclusive interview with Chaim Etgar on Channel 12's "Friday Studio," Abramov denied any business ties to these families, describing his connections as minimal and respectful rather than friendly or criminal.

Abramov recounted a brief, polite acquaintance with members of both families, including attending one family event of the Musli clan and providing football tickets to a Jerushi family member through a mutual friend. He emphasized that he has never engaged in any illegal activities with them and challenged the police to arrest him if they have evidence of wrongdoing. Abramov also revealed that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir personally contacted him on July 15 to offer support and coordinate police protection for all 46 Japanika branches, resulting in a relative calm since then.

Regarding the financial impact, Abramov acknowledged damages but said it is too early to estimate losses, noting strong customer support. He highlighted that his business partners include Leumi Partners, who invested about one billion shekels for a 20% stake. Abramov suggested that the media coverage and ongoing conflict might be linked to internal disputes within Leumi Partners and former Keshet executives. He denied receiving any threats personally and stated he feels safe with security measures in place.

Abramov criticized the media for portraying him as involved in organized crime, calling such claims speculative and unfounded. He stressed his success story as a self-made businessman and reiterated his openness to police investigations. "If the police suspect me of anything, they should arrest me," he said. The police continue their investigation into the attacks and the alleged crime family feud, while Abramov maintains his innocence and cooperation with authorities.