'They threw the grenade four times until it exploded': Bat Yam residents indicted over attack on Japanika restaurant

The Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office, on Thursday, filed an indictment with the District Court in the city against Netanel Avodi (22) and Nehorai Habaz (18) from Bat Yam, for throwing a fragmentation grenade at the Japanika restaurant in Kiryat Ono about a month ago.

The indictment, submitted by Attorney Tamar Teitelbaum, reveals that the two conspired to harm the restaurant. To carry out their plan, the two equipped themselves with electric bicycles and a grenade, and arrived at the scene in the middle of the night, at a time when an employee was inside the restaurant, and two other people were standing nearby.

The investigation reveals that Abodi and Habaz stopped in front of the restaurant and threw the grenade toward the window four consecutive times, until it finally activated and exploded with great force.

Immediately after the explosion, the two fled the scene on their electric bicycles. As a result of the explosion, extensive damage was caused, and the damage to the restaurant and nearby businesses was estimated at about 130,000 shekels ($43,000).

"He is my partner": The wiretap that incriminated

Among the most compelling evidence that led to the conviction of the two was a dramatic wiretap. In a recorded conversation, one of the defendants can be heard urgently trying to find out where his friend was being held, and telling a confidant that it was his "partner" who was arrested for a "throw."

The indictment charges both defendants with aggravated intentional assault, damage with explosive material, and joint carrying and transporting of a weapon. In addition, Avodi is accused of obstruction of justice.

In the request for detention until the end of proceedings, which was submitted concurrently, the prosecution noted that their high level of dangerousness can be inferred from the lack of fear and audacity they demonstrated: “The two repeatedly threw the grenade toward the restaurant window, where an employee was working at the time, until they fulfilled their criminal plan and the grenade exploded.”

It was further noted that their overall silence and the lies they provided at the beginning of the investigation increase their dangerousness, since the background and motive for the act remain unknown.