Haredim clash with police over 'Shabbat cafe' in Jerusalem (VIDEO)
Dozens of Haredim clashed with police near the Basimta cafe in central Jerusalem. The protest has been ongoing for six consecutive weeks and is related to the establishment's operation on Saturdays. Police reinforced their presence…
Assessment
A weekly protest by Haredi demonstrators against a Jerusalem cafe operating on Shabbat has escalated into physical confrontations with police. The sixth week of demonstrations saw an increased police presence after last week's attempt to storm the premises. Secular counter-protesters, including politician Yair Golan and members of his Democrats party, formed a human chain to block Haredi demonstrators from reaching the cafe. The standoff reveals deepening tension between religious and secular communities over public observance of Shabbat in mixed urban spaces.