White House Denounces Antisemitic Rally at Philadelphia Falafel Shop

– The White House condemned an incident at a Philadelphia falafel shop where marchers from a “Flood Philly for Gaza” rally chanted, “You can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.” The deputy press secretary, Andrew Bates, described the incident as “antisemitic and completely unjustifiable.”
– The protest was specifically targeted at Goldie, a kosher restaurant owned by American Israeli chef Michael Solomonov. Solomonov has faced criticism from pro-Palestinian activists for his ties to Israeli institutions and his decision to donate 100% of sales from his restaurants to an Israeli non-profit medical aid group following Hamas attacks.
– The protest was led by the Philly Palestine Coalition. This action and similar protests targeting Jewish-owned businesses have been criticized as antisemitic by various figures, including Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, who termed it a “blatant act of antisemitism – not a peaceful protest.” Philadelphia has witnessed several pro-Palestinian rallies recently.

White House Condemns Antisemitic Protests in Philadelphia

The White House has denounced the antisemitic incidents at an Israeli-style falafel shop in Philadelphia that attracted “Flood Philly for Gaza” rally marchers, who chanted, “You can’t hide, we charge you with genocide” on Sunday.

Deputy press secretary Andrew Bates called it “antisemitic and totally inappropriate to target Israeli food-serving restaurants due to disagreements with Israeli policy”.

He accused the behavior of demonstrating a ruthless double standard, a typical feature of antisemitism.

A video depicted protestors chanting outside Goldie, a kosher restaurant owned by American Israeli chef Michael Solomonov. Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, censured the protest as “clear antisemitism – not a peaceful protest”.

“Targeting businesses only for being Jewish-owned is repugnant. Philadelphia opposes such harassment and hate,” stated Democratic congressman Brendan Boyle.

Philadelphia has experienced continuous pro-Palestinian rallies recently. Preceding month, protestors assembled outside Laser Wolf, another Middle Eastern restaurant owned by the same group as Goldie.

Solomonov rose to fame with Zahav, his Philadelphia-based Israeli restaurant that started in 2008. His food empire has since grown with numerous Israeli and Jewish-style eateries in the city.

He faced criticism from pro-Palestinian activists for his connections to Israeli institutions. After the October 7 Hamas attacks, he vowed to donate all his restaurant sales to an Israeli medical aid non-profit group.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Philly Palestine Coalition led Sunday’s protest. Marchers passed through the city center, occasionally focusing on the city’s NFL team supporters in bars that evening, shouting, “While you’re watching, bombs are dropping”.

—
Read More USA News