Philadelphia Jewish Restaurant Targeted With 'Genocide' Chants

Philadelphia lawmakers and Jewish commentators have hit out at demonstrators who targeted a falafel restaurant in Philadelphia owned by an Israeli Jewish chef, chanting slogans accusing it of "genocide."

On Sunday, footage emerged of a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathering outside Goldie on midtown Sansom Street who were chanting "Goldie, Goldie you can't hide, we charge you with genocide."

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the march was organized by the Philly Palestine Coalition, which in October called for a boycott of "Zionist"-owned businesses in the city, including Goldie outlets and others owned by Michael Solomonov.

Newsweek approached the Philly Palestine Coalition for comment via direct message on Monday.

The protest came after a week-long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which had been orchestrated to allow for the negotiated release of hostages held in Gaza and for the movement of humanitarian aid into the territory—collapsed on Friday and fighting resumed.

Israel has conducted an intensive campaign of airstrikes on Gaza and a subsequent ground offensive since around 1,500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants staged a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing an estimated 1,200 people, including many civilians, and taking around 240 hostages. More than 15,500 Palestinians have been killed, The Associated Press reported, citing the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

Israeli forces are now thought to be preparing for an expansion of the ground offensive into southern Gaza.

Since Israel began its military campaign in Gaza, there have been pro-Palestinian demonstrations around the world, including on many U.S. college campuses. In some cases, these have spilled over into expressions of support for Hamas' actions and overt antisemitic threats.

Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, who is Jewish, described the targeting of Goldie as "a blatant act of antisemitism—not a peaceful protest." He added that he felt "this hate and bigotry is reminiscent of a dark time in history" and that he had reached out to Solomonov and his team.

"I look forward to breaking bread there with them again soon," Shapiro said.

"I can't believe I even have to say this, but targeting businesses simply because they're Jewish-owned is despicable," Brendan Boyle, a congressman representing one of Philadelphia's districts, wrote.

David Frum, a political commentator and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, who is Jewish, accused the demonstrators of being an "antisemitic mob," while Eli Kowaz, a Middle East analyst at the Israel Policy Forum, defended Solomonov as "an outspoken advocate of Israeli-Palestinian peace."

"Chef Mike Solomonov is the nicest guy I know and has done so much to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and always sees the humanity in everyone," Hen Mazzig, an Israeli writer and activist, said. "Protestors in Philadelphia came to his restaurant to protest, just because he's Jewish."

In the week following the surprise attack on Israel, Solomonov donated the sales from four of the restaurants he owns in the city to an emergency medical charity that operates in Israel, CBS reported at the time.

Newsweek approached Solomonov via email through his company for comment on Monday.

At the same time, other video footage of a demonstration near the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia showed protestors chanting "intifada revolution" and "long live the intifada," though it is unclear if it is the same group that congregated outside Goldie.

Intifada is an Arabic word meaning uprising or rebellion, but in recent years has become associated with armed Palestinian violence against Israel.

Have you experienced any incidents of antisemitism in the U.S. in recent weeks? Email a.phillips@newsweek.com and let us know.