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Haredi protesters clash with secular patrons at Jerusalem cafe open on Shabbat

94 0
01.08.2026

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 of breaking into the cafe did police begin to forcefully disperse them with the use of batons, according to Ynet.

The news outlet reported that this week’s demonstration had the highest turnout rate by ultra-Orthodox picketers since the protests began over a month ago.

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עימותים בין שוטרים לבין מפגינים שנעו לכיוון המחסומים........

© The Times of Israel