Dramatic Scenes: Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Attempt to Storm Secular Cafe in Jerusalem

Unusual clashes took place this morning, Saturday, between ultra-Orthodox protesters, who are demonstrating against the fact that the "Ba-Smita" cafe on Agrippas Street in Jerusalem is open on Shabbat, and the cafe's patrons, who are trying to block their path. Only after the protesters were on the verge of breaking through did police officers begin to disperse them by force, using batons.

In footage from the cafe, a man wrapped in a tallit is seen trying to break inside while the secular patrons of the place block his way. One of the customers is seen pulling on the tallit of another rioter who tried to enter. In pictures from there, the cafe's patrons are also seen trying to block the entrance with a kind of "human wall."

The police did try to stop the ultra-Orthodox protesters, but they—who arrived in the largest numbers since the beginning of the protest against the cafe in recent weeks—managed to break through the barriers. The police were given permission to use force and use batons, but they were required to run to their patrol cars first to bring equipment for dispersing demonstrations, and in the meantime, clashes continued at the entrance to the cafe. Later, the police began to forcibly disperse the ultra-Orthodox protesters.

The chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, MK Avigdor Lieberman, arrived at the scene to support the cafe and said:

«I believe in the principle of live and let live. It cannot be that drinking coffee on a Saturday morning becomes an act of civil heroism. The vandalism we see behind me—all this only proves that these guys need to take out their energy against Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.»

The "Ba-Smita" cafe opened only last spring and became a scene of struggle over the character of the capital. The ultra-Orthodox protest against the cafe has been going on for the last few months and has included violent clashes and vandalism on several Saturdays. The cafe manager, Yoel Ben David, claimed then that he does not intend to give up: «We will add tables and umbrellas outside. There are also religious people who come from distant neighborhoods, and I prepared a pitcher of cold coffee for them.»