Prosecutors have filed declarations against two 18-year-old Rehovot residents accused of setting fire to a Japanika branch in Givatayim on July 12; no injuries were reported. The Tel Aviv District Central Unit says technological methods helped identify the suspects, who were arrested in late July. The attack is one of several targeting Japanika outlets amid a violent feud between the Musli and Jarushi crime families, which authorities link to a dispute over tens of millions in cryptocurrency. Separate incidents—including a grenade attack in Kiryat Ono—are under investigation and related arrests, including that of Musli leader Yossi Musli, have been reported.
Prosecutors File Charges After Arson At Japanika Branch In Givatayim Amid Crime-Family Feud
A view of a Japanika restaurant branch owned by businessman Barak Abramov that was damaged in a shooting in Herzliya, central Israel, July 14, 2026. (photo credit: Tal Gal/Flash90)
Prosecutors filed declarations on Tuesday against two 18-year-old residents of Rehovot accused of carrying out an arson attack at a Japanika restaurant in Givatayim, a move that precedes formal indictments.
What Happened
According to investigators, on July 12 two masked individuals arrived at the Japanika branch on a two-wheeled vehicle, poured an accelerant in front of the restaurant and set it alight before fleeing the scene. The blaze damaged the building and property inside the eatery, but no injuries were reported.
Investigation And Arrests
The Tel Aviv District Central Unit led the probe. Using technological investigative methods, police say they traced and identified the suspects despite apparent attempts to conceal their tracks. The first suspect, an 18-year-old from Rehovot, was arrested on July 27; a second 18-year-old from the same city was arrested several days later. Searches of their homes recovered evidence and clothing that investigators say link them to the arson. Their pretrial detention was repeatedly extended while the investigation continued.
Wider Pattern Of Attacks
The Givatayim fire was one episode in a broader series of assaults on Japanika branches across central Israel. Other incidents reportedly included grenade attacks, pipe bombs and attempted arson. In a separate case in Kiryat Ono, investigators say a fragmentation grenade—allegedly stolen from IDF equipment—was thrown at a Japanika outlet.
Israel Police car (credit: YOSSI ALONI/MAARIV)
Organized-Crime Context
Authorities say the attacks are connected to a violent feud between the Musli and Jarushi crime organizations. Israeli police detained Musli crime family leader Yossi Musli on July 14 in connection with a series of assaults targeting the Japanika chain, local media reported. A KAN News report said nine branches of the chain were damaged in one day; most of the affected locations were franchises operated by members of the Jarushi family.
Sources familiar with the matter told investigators that a businessman named Abramov—who is not a suspect—has been perceived as having ties to elements of the Jarushi family. That perceived affiliation is believed to have made Japanika outlets targets for factions aligned with the Musli organization. Authorities attribute the broader feud in part to a dispute over tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.
Next Steps
Prosecutors’ declarations have been filed as investigators prepare formal indictments against the two Rehovot residents. Investigations into related attacks and arrests connected to the Japanika incidents remain ongoing.
Photo credit: Yossi Aloni / Maariv (Israel Police car)
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