Dramatic footage: Haredi protesters attempt to break into secular café in Jerusalem
The café 'HaSimta' has become a battleground over the character of the capital, and this morning the Haredi protesters - who are protesting its opening on Shabbat - managed to break through police barriers, and…
Assessment
A secular cafe in Jerusalem became a flashpoint this morning as Haredi protesters broke through police barriers to confront patrons over Shabbat operations. The footage shows patrons forming a human wall and pulling at protesters' prayer shawls before police eventually dispersed the crowd with batons. This is not a new dispute but an escalation of long-simmering tensions over the city's character. The key question is whether police will now enforce a permanent presence or allow the street to decide the city's Shabbat norms.