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| White House Condemns Protest at Israeli Restaurant in Philadelphia | White House Condemns Protest at Israeli Restaurant in Philadelphia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| White House and state officials said that a protest on Sunday was hateful and antisemitic after dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators opposed to Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip chanted slogans charging “genocide” outside an Israeli-style falafel shop in Philadelphia. | White House and state officials said that a protest on Sunday was hateful and antisemitic after dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators opposed to Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip chanted slogans charging “genocide” outside an Israeli-style falafel shop in Philadelphia. |
| The White House issued a statement on Monday that called the protest targeting the establishment “unjustifiable,” adding to reaction from Pennsylvania officials. | The White House issued a statement on Monday that called the protest targeting the establishment “unjustifiable,” adding to reaction from Pennsylvania officials. |
| A video clip posted on X showed the pro-Palestinian protesters outside Goldie, a vegan falafel shop owned by Michael Solomonov, an Israeli-born chef, and Steve Cook, a former investment banker turned restaurateur, through their Philadelphia hospitality group, CookNSolo Restaurants. | A video clip posted on X showed the pro-Palestinian protesters outside Goldie, a vegan falafel shop owned by Michael Solomonov, an Israeli-born chef, and Steve Cook, a former investment banker turned restaurateur, through their Philadelphia hospitality group, CookNSolo Restaurants. |
| “Goldie, Goldie, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide,” the group chanted in the video taken on Sunday. | “Goldie, Goldie, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide,” the group chanted in the video taken on Sunday. |
| The White House joined Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania in condemning the focus of protesters on the restaurant. | The White House joined Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania in condemning the focus of protesters on the restaurant. |
| “It is antisemitic and completely unjustifiable to target restaurants that serve Israeli food over disagreements with Israeli policy,” Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, said in the statement on Monday. | “It is antisemitic and completely unjustifiable to target restaurants that serve Israeli food over disagreements with Israeli policy,” Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, said in the statement on Monday. |
| “This behavior reveals the kind of cruel and senseless double standard that is a calling card of antisemitism,” Mr. Bates said. | “This behavior reveals the kind of cruel and senseless double standard that is a calling card of antisemitism,” Mr. Bates said. |
| He added that President Biden “will always stand up firmly against these kinds of undignified actions.” | He added that President Biden “will always stand up firmly against these kinds of undignified actions.” |
| Social media postings from accounts going by The Philly Palestine Coalition and The Philadelphia Free Palestine Coalition called on people to “flood Philly for Gaza” on Sunday, but did not name the restaurant. Their invitation also called for a lift to “the siege on Gaza” and to “end military aid to Israel.” | Social media postings from accounts going by The Philly Palestine Coalition and The Philadelphia Free Palestine Coalition called on people to “flood Philly for Gaza” on Sunday, but did not name the restaurant. Their invitation also called for a lift to “the siege on Gaza” and to “end military aid to Israel.” |
| “The Philadelphia Palestine Coalition has been protesting, and will continue to protest, Israel’s decades long violent colonization of Palestine, the most recent manifestation of which is the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,” the group said on Instagram. | “The Philadelphia Palestine Coalition has been protesting, and will continue to protest, Israel’s decades long violent colonization of Palestine, the most recent manifestation of which is the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,” the group said on Instagram. |
| The social media post described the protest outside Goldie as a three-minute stop that was part of a larger march, adding that members of the coalition of individuals and organizations behind it would continue to boycott Mr. Solomonov’s establishments. | |
| Through a spokeswoman, Mr. Solomonov, who is Jewish and was born near Tel Aviv, declined to comment on Monday. | Through a spokeswoman, Mr. Solomonov, who is Jewish and was born near Tel Aviv, declined to comment on Monday. |
| A prominent, award-winning chef, Mr. Solomonov has several restaurants serving Israeli food in Philadelphia, including Zahav, which opened in 2008. | |
| Following the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Mr. Solomonov announced that he would donate proceeds from sales on Oct. 12 to Friends of United Hatzalah, a nonprofit emergency medical service in Israel. | |
| The protest on Sunday came amid mounting violence as Israel vowed to root out Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls the Gaza Strip and launched a surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people. That attack prompted intense retaliation that has killed more than 15,000 people in Gaza, according to officials in Gaza. | The protest on Sunday came amid mounting violence as Israel vowed to root out Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls the Gaza Strip and launched a surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people. That attack prompted intense retaliation that has killed more than 15,000 people in Gaza, according to officials in Gaza. |
| There have been street demonstrations in Philadelphia, New York and other cities and towns around the United States by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters. | There have been street demonstrations in Philadelphia, New York and other cities and towns around the United States by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters. |
| Jewish advocacy groups such as the Anti-Defamation League have reported a rise in antisemitic threats and incidents in the United States. The group said in October that it had recorded 312 antisemitic episodes between Oct. 7 and Oct. 23, with 190 of those directly linked to the Israel-Hamas War. | Jewish advocacy groups such as the Anti-Defamation League have reported a rise in antisemitic threats and incidents in the United States. The group said in October that it had recorded 312 antisemitic episodes between Oct. 7 and Oct. 23, with 190 of those directly linked to the Israel-Hamas War. |
| On Sunday and Monday, state leaders in Pennsylvania took to social media to criticize the protest outside Goldie. | On Sunday and Monday, state leaders in Pennsylvania took to social media to criticize the protest outside Goldie. |
| Governor Shapiro shared a clip of the protest on X and described it as “a blatant act of antisemitism — not a peaceful protest.” | Governor Shapiro shared a clip of the protest on X and described it as “a blatant act of antisemitism — not a peaceful protest.” |
| He added that the restaurant “was targeted and mobbed because its owner is Jewish and Israeli.” | He added that the restaurant “was targeted and mobbed because its owner is Jewish and Israeli.” |
| “This hate and bigotry is reminiscent of a dark time in history,” he said. | “This hate and bigotry is reminiscent of a dark time in history,” he said. |
| Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, said on X that demonstrators could instead protest “Hamas’ systematic rape of Israeli women and girls” or demand that “the remaining hostages be immediately released.” | Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, said on X that demonstrators could instead protest “Hamas’ systematic rape of Israeli women and girls” or demand that “the remaining hostages be immediately released.” |
| Representative Brendan Boyle, a Democrat whose district includes Philadelphia, said on X that “Philadelphia stands against this sort of harassment and hate.” | Representative Brendan Boyle, a Democrat whose district includes Philadelphia, said on X that “Philadelphia stands against this sort of harassment and hate.” |
| Mayor Jim Kenney of Philadelphia said on Monday that the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations would look into the protest. | Mayor Jim Kenney of Philadelphia said on Monday that the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations would look into the protest. |
| Peter Baker and Kim Severson contributed reporting. | Peter Baker and Kim Severson contributed reporting. |