Dozens of haredim again demonstrated on Saturday against the opening of the Basimta café on Agrippas Street in Jerusalem on Shabbat. Across from them, a counter-protest was held by secular Israelis who came to express their support for the business.
During the demonstration, a heated verbal confrontation was recorded between a civilian and one of the young protesters. The civilian told the demonstrators, "I was wounded in Lebanon, for your sake too."
One of the protesters responded, "It's a shame you didn't die," sparking widespread outrage on social media.
Police closed off access to the café, and as a result, the protest was held farther away from the premises than on previous occasions. During the demonstration, several haredi protesters attempted to break through police barricades and clashed with officers.
In recent weeks, the café has become a focal point of tensions between haredim who oppose its opening on Shabbat and secular Israelis and protest activists who support it.
Since the beginning of July, demonstrations have been held outside the business, while supporters have also been gathering at the site to show solidarity with the café's owner in the face of the protests.