Jerusalem Cafe Protest Turns Violent Over Shabbat Opening

Dozens of Haredi protesters gathered outside the month-old Basimta cafe in Jerusalem because it opened on Shabbat. Protesters shouted, threw stones at windows and one overturned a table; staff said four waves tried to drive customers away, while local residents later came from across the city to support the business. Owner Yoel Ben David said he tried to speak with the protesters, said there were no outdoor speakers and the cafe sits inside an alley. Israel should protect Shabbat's dignity and Torah communities while also rejecting coercion and violence against legal businesses.