California Palestinian Cafe Closes Amid Discrimination Lawsuits

The Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland, California, has closed its doors following three legal proceedings alleging discrimination against Jewish customers. The cafe's owners announced they are redirecting their full attention to a federal trial scheduled to begin next month. The owner, Fathi Abdur-Rahim Al-Hraish, and his company, Native Grounds LLC, are being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly violating federal civil rights laws by refusing service to Jewish patrons.

In addition to the government's lawsuit, two separate lawsuits have been filed by customers who claim they were ejected from the cafe due to their Jewish identity and for wearing hats bearing the Star of David. One plaintiff, Michael Radis, recounted being told, "You're the Jew. You're the Zionist. We don't want you in our coffee house. Get out." Another customer, Jonathan Hirsh, reported being asked if he was a Zionist, called a "violent" Star of David on his hat, and ordered to leave with his young son.

The cafe also drew controversy around the anniversary of the October 7th attacks by offering drinks named "Sweet Sinwar," after Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and "Iced In Tea Fada," a play on the word "intifada." These menu items became part of the public backlash against the establishment.

However, the cafe's owners contend that the lawsuits are not about discrimination but are part of a political campaign against them. They claim the Department of Justice, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the Brandeis Center filed "three separate and duplicative lawsuits" in response to what they describe as "two incidents of Zionist harassment of the coffee house and its staff." The owners assert that these legal actions are an attempt by "Zionist organizations and the federal government to use the courts as a tool to suppress freedom of expression and public political commitment to Palestine."

The owners stated that the government and the ADL used their "vast resources" to harm their small business, leading to harassment, threats, and property damage. They are now preparing for the federal trial, set to open on October 26th before Judge Susan Illston in the Northern District of California, and are seeking donations for their legal defense fund, vowing to continue their fight for "the liberation of Palestine."