Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Continue Weekly Demonstrations Against Jerusalem Cafe Open on Sabbath

The weekly protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews against the "Basemta" cafe in Jerusalem continue, with dozens of demonstrators, including children, gathering outside the establishment near the Nahalat neighborhood. Protesters chant against the cafe for operating on the Sabbath, prompting police to deploy forces and set up barriers to maintain order. These recurring tensions have escalated in recent weeks, with some protesters overturning tables and banging on windows, leading the cafe owner, Yoel Ben David, to file a police complaint.

Ben David expressed hope for peaceful coexistence, stating, "We are not the first cafe in Jerusalem to face such events, and certainly not the last. I hope everyone can enjoy coffee or pray quietly on the Sabbath without disturbing each other." He also noted the support from secular residents, who at one point built a fence to separate customers from protesters. Ben David lamented seeing elderly protesters bring children to the demonstrations and said attempts to engage with them were unsuccessful.

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion responded to the incidents last month, emphasizing the city's diversity and the need for mutual respect and restraint. He condemned all forms of violence, stating it has no place in Jerusalem, and pledged to uphold the status quo, public order, and the delicate social fabric that allows all residents to live together with dignity and security.