Jerusalem cafe becomes flashpoint in growing haredi protests over Shabbat

Alleys around Cafe Basimta in Jerusalem have become a battleground, filled with haredi Orthodox demonstrators for the sixth straight Saturday. The small cafe, which opened in May, has drawn protests due to its location near the border of haredi neighborhoods and its decision to open on Shabbat, a day of rest in Judaism.

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There have been weeks when the average age was probably about 16 there.

While nearly 100 establishments in Jerusalem open on Shabbat, Cafe Basimta is the only one facing such intense opposition. According to Jerusalem city council member Laura Wharton, the cafe's newness distinguishes it from older businesses that have operated for decades without incident. The timing of the protests also coincides with a break for local yeshiva students, many of whom make up the bulk of the demonstrators.

The cafe's opening has ignited tensions beyond religious observance, becoming a focal point in wider protests and riots across Jerusalem. These broader demonstrations oppose the construction of a light rail line and the extension of mandatory army conscription to yeshiva students, both of which are contentious issues for the Haredi community.

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The cafe is not only a flashpoint in the long-running fight between secular and religious Israelis over the character of the holy city.

Protests against the light rail project have been ongoing for six years, involving vandalism and delays that have cost millions of shekels. The project is proceeding, and the Shabbat break allows protesters to shift their focus to the cafe. The demographic makeup of Jerusalem, with a significant haredi population, underscores the struggle for the city's identity, which non-haredi residents believe is at stake.

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The vandalism and delays have cost an estimated 400 million shekels.