2 men arrested for arson attacks on Ramat Gan cafe that’s open on Shabbat

Police have arrested two young men suspected in a string of arson attacks targeting a cafe in Ramat Gan that remains open on Shabbat.

Both suspects are residents of Beitar Illit, a Haredi settlement in the West Bank.

The most recent arson attack took place at the start of the month, in which individuals set fire to the cafe’s storefront, causing heavy damage to the windows and building.

Yesterday police arrested their first suspect in the case, a 23-year-old from Beitar Illit. The young man was arrested last night and brought to court today for a remand hearing. He will remain in custody until Sunday.

And today, police arrested his 19-year-old alleged accomplice, also from the Haredi settlement, and intend to bring him to the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court tomorrow with a request to extend his remand.

The cafe, called Bandita, has been set alight three times over the past two months, causing property damage, police say. No injuries were reported in any of the arson incidents.

Speaking to Ynet, the cafe owner’s spouse speculated that the repeated arson attacks are linked to the cafe staying open on Shabbat.

After the third arson incident, the Ramat Gan municipality issued a statement condemning the attack and saying it poses a threat to “the fabric of shared life in the city.”

פרסום ראשון: המשטרה עצרה חשוד ראשון בגל ההצתות של קפה ״בנדיטה״ ברמת גן

צעיר בן 23, תושב ביתר עילית, נעצר על ידי יל״פ מרחב דן בחשד למעורבות בהצתת בית הקפה בתחילת החודש. לפי החשד, הוא פעל יחד עם מעורבים נוספים. במשטרה חושדים כי אותה חוליה מעורבת גם במקרי ההצתה הנוספים שאירעו בבית… pic.twitter.com/9TVnnZss7O

— Lee Ayash (@lee_ayash) July 22, 2026