Israel's State Attorney's Office filed indictments in the Tel Aviv District Court on Thursday against four men accused of separate attacks on branches of the Japanika restaurant chain, including an arson in Givatayim and a grenade attack in Kiryat Ono, both carried out while employees were inside.
Four indicted over separate arson and grenade attacks on Japanika restaurant chain in Israel
Israel's State Attorney's Office filed indictments in the Tel Aviv District Court on Thursday against four men accused of separate attacks on branches of the Japanika restaurant chain, including an arson in Givatayim and a grenade attack in Kiryat Ono, both carried out while employees were inside.
Hanan Yaakov, 18, and Osher Bayech, 18, both from Rehovot, were indicted over the arson, which occurred approximately one month before the filing. According to the indictment, the two obtained an electric scooter, flammable material, and equipment to start a fire before arriving near the Givatayim restaurant. After concealing their identities, Yaakov poured the flammable material and set it alight while an employee was inside.
Two men from Bat Yam were also indicted on Thursday for allegedly repeatedly throwing a fragmentation grenade at a Japanika restaurant in Kiryat Ono until it exploded, also while an employee was inside. That attack took place on July 13.
Police have investigated the attacks against the backdrop of an alleged organized-crime dispute. The incidents are part of a described wave of grenade, gunfire, and arson attacks targeting branches of the chain. A Japanika restaurant branch owned by businessman Barak Abramov was also damaged in a separate shooting in Herzliya on July 14, 2026.
The prosecution has requested that Yaakov and Bayech remain in custody until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against them.
- The source does not state the full names of the two men from Bat Yam indicted over the grenade attack.
- The source does not state whether the prosecution also requested pre-trial detention for the two Bat Yam defendants.
- The source does not state whether any employees were injured in any of the attacks.
- The source does not identify the parties to the alleged organized-crime dispute underlying the attacks.
- The source does not state whether any of the four defendants have entered pleas or made public statements through legal counsel.
- The source does not specify the exact date of the Givatayim arson beyond describing it as approximately one month before the August 14, 2026 filing.
Read the original at The Jerusalem Post