While the Iron Sword War is still ongoing, the intensity and scale of violent anti-Semitic attacks around the world against Israel-linked institutions or Jews are increasing and alarming. Such an act joined this escalating wave on Sunday night and sparked outrage in the United States, when a large group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators directed their protest to the Goldie falafel restaurant in Philadelphia.
Demonstrators gathered with flags and megaphones outside the venue and chanted: "Goldie, Goldie, you can't hide, we accuse you of genocide." One video documenting the incident posted on Twitter also showed demonstrators vandalizing the windows. They were then seen leaving the restaurant and continuing their walk down the street.
Tonight in Philly, we saw a blatant act of antisemitism — not a peaceful protest.
A restaurant was targeted and mobbed because its owner is Jewish and Israeli. This hate and bigotry is reminiscent of a dark time in history. https://t.co/WS2guahnsQ
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) December 4, 2023
"Just to clarify," said the person who posted the video, "I witnessed stickers on the windows and doors of the place, and the stickers read: 'Free Palestine' and 'This is genocide.' The Twitter video has been shared thousands of times and has amassed more than 13.4 million views so far.
The successful Goldie restaurant is part of the CookNSolo Group, jointly owned by Israeli chef and restaurateur Michael Solomonov. His restaurant group includes 20 locations on the East Coast of the United States, from hummus and falafel restaurants to high-end restaurants. It should be noted that last month this media reported that a small group demonstrated outside the group's Middle Eastern restaurant Lazer Wolf in Fishtown, and last October an Instagram post by the Palestinian Coalition in Philadelphia called for a boycott of several restaurants in the country, including those of the group.
The demonstration that included the falafel attack was organized and led by the Palestinian coalition in Philadelphia. At the same time, students from the nearby University of Pennsylvania called for an intifada. The protesters also harassed citizens who came to local pubs to watch a Philadelphia Eagles game while shouting at them: "While you're watching, bombs are dropped."
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A post shared by G O L D I E (@goldiefalafel )
The attack on the famous falafel received local media coverage in Philadelphia, while social media posts condemning it were also published. Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania who is Jewish, also responded to the incident, tweeting: "Tonight, in Philadelphia, we witnessed a blatant act of anti-Semitism, not a peaceful protest." He added: "A restaurant was flagged and attacked because its owner is Jewish and Israeli. This hatred and racism is a reminder of dark times in history." Shapiro said he spoke with the owner, Michael Solomonov, and staff after the attack, expressed his support and wrote that he and his wife expect to dine there soon.
Protestors in Philadelphia stand outside of a Jewish & Israeli owned falafel restaurant
"Goldie, Goldie you can't hide, we charge you with genocide" pic.twitter.com/yF7hQwev66
— Jordan (@thatJVG) December 3, 2023
Jewish actor Josh Gad ("Frozen," "The Book of Mormons") also expressed disgust and outrage at the attack. "It's so dark," he wrote in a post on his Threads account, along with the now-viral TikTok video. "It's diabolical. It's crazy that someone thinks it's okay and that not everyone speaks out against it immediately."
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