In Israel, religious divisions among Jews fuel tensions in election campaign

An ultra-Orthodox Jew in Jerusalem, August 30, 2026. ILIA YEFIMOVICH/AFP After weeks of tension, the owners of Basimta Café in Jerusalem have given in: They will no longer open their establishment on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath. Ever since the opening of the café in the city center near the famous Rue Jaffa, they had faced regular protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews who were angry that the café did not observe the fundamental religious rule forbidding such activity from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. The café managers, who belong to Jews for Jesus, an American Messianic movement, said on Thursday, September 3, that the decision to close on Saturdays was "difficult and painful," but, in their view, had become unavoidable due to repeated friction. In the midst of the campaign for legislative elections scheduled for October 27, the left has denounced what it views as an attack on religious freedom. "This is the result of Haredi terror," said Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, before promising that the opposition coalition would protect secular Jews. Jerusalem has come under increasing pressure from radical religious groups, whose numbers keep growing. The ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods have long been closed to vehicles every weekend by the police; sometimes, residents throw objects at cars passing nearby on Saturdays. You have 67.81% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.