‘Stop destroying Jerusalem’: Haredim target cafe open on Shabbat for 3rd week in a row

Police erect barriers to prevent friction outside city center’s Cafe Basimta, a recently opened business that has drawn the ire of ultra-Orthodox demonstrators

For the third Saturday in a row, ultra-Orthodox demonstrators protested against Cafe Basimta in Jerusalem for opening on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest.

The cafe was opened a little over a month ago in a small alley off Agripas Street in central Jerusalem, and has since then become a regular target of ultra-Orthodox protesters on Saturdays, leader secular counter-protesters to arrive to support it.

The Haredi protesters chanted “Stop destroying Jerusalem” at customers and employees, as footage showed dozens of secular people lined up at the venue in support.

On the last two Saturdays, dozens of Haredi men and boys tried to block the entrance to the cafe and shouted at patrons outside.

Police appeared more prepared this week for the disruptions, erecting barriers earlier in the day to prevent the Haredi protesters from reaching the cafe in the alley.

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Appearing in support of the cafe, Jerusalem’s deputy mayor Adir Schwartz told reporters outside that the Haredi protesters were trying to “terrorize the business owners and the Jerusalem public, just because they chose to open the cafe on Shabbat.”

Schwartz said he was “standing by the business owners and made it clear that a handful of extremists cannot dictate to Jerusalemites how to live.”

בפעם השלישית ברציפות: מחאות מול בית קפה "בסמטה" הפתוח בשבת בירושלים. מפגינים חרדים צועקים: "הפסיקו להחריב את ירושלים". מנגד, עשרות חילונים שבאו לתמוך. המשטרה הציבה גדרות בסמטה כדי להפריד בין הצדדים@inbartvizer

צילום: אביטל משה pic.twitter.com/yTXmPSOQ4y

— החדשות – N12 (@N12News) July 18, 2026

Enforcement of laws regarding work on Shabbat is an ongoing issue of contention in Israel, against the backdrop of broader disagreement over the relationship between religion and state.

Municipal and national laws often differ, sometimes leading to conflict between city authorities and the national government, as well as local discord.

Businesses across the country are occasionally vandalized by Haredi extremists who oppose their operating on Shabbat.

Jerusalem has become increasingly Orthodox over the years, driving out large segments of its secular population.

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