The Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland, California, remained closed Wednesday after temporarily shutting its doors last week to focus on three lawsuits alleging discrimination against Jewish customers, including a father and his 5-year-old son. The Palestinian-owned café is preparing for an October 26 federal civil rights trial, including a Justice Department case.
A federal judge previously rejected the defendants' attempt to dismiss the DOJ lawsuit, which alleges Fathi Abdulrahim Harara and employees refused service to Jewish customers wearing Star of David caps and followed them outside while hurling insults and threats. The café announced in August it would stop operating after August 23 while owners prepared for litigation.
In an August statement on Substack, the café attributed its legal challenges to efforts to suppress its pro-Palestinian politics, stating: “These lawsuits represent the ongoing efforts of Zionist organizations and the federal government to use the courts as a tool to repress free speech and public political commitments to Palestine.”
Legal and Political Responses
California Republican Party Jewish engagement chair and attorney Elizabeth Barcohana criticized the café’s defense in a statement to Fox News Digital, stating: “It is ironic that after freely expressing support for terrorism with these beverage names, the café owners appear to now be using the First Amendment as a defense for ejecting two Jewish customers who wore hats with Stars of David on them.” Barcohana added that the First Amendment does not protect businesses open to the public from discriminating against customers.
The Justice Department lawsuit remains scheduled for trial on October 26, with the café’s owners preparing their defense. The case centers on allegations of denying service based on religious attire and subsequent harassment outside the establishment. No further details on the café’s operational plans post-trial have been disclosed.