Haredi protesters clash with secular patrons at Jerusalem cafe open on Shabbat
Dozens of Haredi men and boys protested outside a recently opened Jerusalem cafe on Saturday for being open on the Sabbath, clashing with secular patrons and police after they burst through barricades.The demonstration marked the fifth straight week ultra-Orthodox demonstrators have picketed the business and appeared to be the largest yet.Cafe Basimta, which is one of the few Jerusalem eating establishments to operate on the Jewish day of rest, has been facing repeated harassment in recent weeks from Haredi protesters during its weekend hours.Footage published by Hebrew media on Saturday showed secular customers and police officers confronting some of the Haredi protesters and trying to block their entry to the cafe’s premises on Agripas Street in central Jerusalem.One secular patron could be seen in a video published by Ynet preventing an ultra-Orthodox man from entering the cafe by pulling at his prayer shawl.Only after the demonstrators were on the verge…
Dozens of Haredi men protested outside Cafe Basimta in Jerusalem on Saturday for its fifth consecutive week of operating on Shabbat, leading to clashes with secular patrons and police. The demonstration, which was the largest yet, saw protesters attempting to breach barricades and enter the cafe on Agripas Street. Police used batons to disperse the crowd as they neared the cafe's entrance. Avigdor Liberman, head of the Yisrael Beytenu party, visited the cafe to show support, stating, “It cannot be that having a cup of coffee on Saturday morning turns into an act of civil courage.” He also suggested the protesters should direct their energy against external threats rather than peaceful citizens. The cafe has also faced controversy due to its ties with the Christian missionary organization Jews for Jesus, leading Hapoel Jerusalem soccer team to retract a solidarity advertising offer.
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