No arrests as dozens of ultra-Orthodox try to storm café open on Shabbat

Dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters attempted to break into the 'Basmeta' café on Agrippas Street in Jerusalem on Saturday, in protest of its opening on Shabbat, clashing with police, café patrons, and activists. Police used batons to block the attempt but made no arrests. Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman arrived at the scene, and one protester shouted at him, 'Go back to communist Russia.' This is the fifth week of protests against the café.

Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews attempted on Saturday to break into the 'Basmeta' café on Agrippas Street in Jerusalem, protesting its opening on Shabbat, and clashed with police, café patrons, and activists who had arrived at the scene. Police prevented the protesters from forcing their way into the café, using batons among other means – but made no arrests. Police confirmed to Davar that there were no arrests following the disturbances. This is the fifth week of protests against the café, which recently opened. Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman arrived at the scene during the clashes. 'It cannot be that drinking coffee on Saturday morning becomes an act of civil courage,' he said in a video he published. In footage from the area, one protester is seen shouting at him, 'Go back to communist Russia.' Activists from the Democrats party and the Jerusalem-based Hitorrerut movement also came to defend the café.