Two Young Men Charged with Arson of Japnika Branch in Givatayim Amid Crime Family Feud

The Israeli State Prosecutor's Office announced on Friday that two 18-year-olds from Rehovot, Hanan Yaakov and Osher Bayach, have been charged with arson of a Japnika restaurant branch in Givatayim. The prosecution has requested their detention until the conclusion of legal proceedings. According to the indictment, the suspects arrived at the restaurant at 4 a.m. equipped with an electric scooter, plastic bottles filled with flammable liquid, and wearing camouflage clothing. Yaakov poured the flammable liquid inside the restaurant and set it on fire before both fled the scene. At the time, an employee was inside the brightly lit restaurant. The indictment accuses both of aggravated arson. Additionally, Bayach faces charges of impersonation and obstructing a police officer after attempting to evade arrest and identifying himself as another person. The prosecution emphasized that the suspects' actions endangered public safety and the employee's life, with the incident narrowly resulting in property damage only.

This arson is part of an ongoing conflict between the Jerushi and Mosli crime families, during which several Japnika branches in central Israel, owned by Barak Abramov, the owner of Beitar Jerusalem football club, have been targeted. Abramov is currently aligned with the Jerushi family after switching allegiance from the Mosli family following a robbery at his home. Related developments include a restraining order issued against crime boss Yossi Mosli and charges against two residents of Bat Yam for throwing a grenade at another Japnika branch.