Jerusalem cafe became symbol of secular defiance, until Israelis learned it's run by Jews for Jesus

Cafe Basimta in Jerusalem, initially supported by secular Israelis and Hapoel Jerusalem soccer team for defying Haredi protests against Shabbat operation, has become a symbol of a more complex cultural conflict. The soccer team retracted its sponsorship after learning the cafe is a project of Jews for Jesus, a Christian missionary organization. This revelation has complicated the cafe's image, as it was previously seen as a secular stand against religious coercion. While some supporters remain steadfast, others, like Jerusalem's deputy mayor Adir Schwartz, acknowledge the added complexity. Yoel Ben David, the cafe's operator and a Jews for Jesus official, states that while the organization owns the cafe, proselytizing is not its primary focus. Or LeAchim, a Haredi anti-missionary group, has launched a campaign against the cafe, planning a large protest focusing on its missionary ties.