Ultra-Orthodox protesters clash with police at Jerusalem café operating on Sabbath

Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators gathered outside a Jerusalem café on Saturday in protest against its decision to open on the Sabbath. The café, located in the city’s Summeach alley, has become a flashpoint for tensions between the religious and secular communities, with police deploying barriers to manage the crowds and prevent disruption.

The protesters attempted to breach the police checkpoints, leading to confrontations not only with law enforcement but also with local residents and members of the secular activist movement ‘Awakening,’ who turned out to show support for the café’s owners. The tension reflects the ongoing cultural divide in Jerusalem over observance of Jewish religious law, which prohibits work and commerce on the Sabbath.

Saturday’s demonstration marks the fifth consecutive week that protests have taken place at the café, suggesting a sustained campaign by the ultra-Orthodox community against the business. The recurring nature of the protests indicates a hardening of positions on both sides of the dispute, with neither group showing signs of backing down.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.