White House, Elected Officials Denounce Protest Outside Israeli-Style Pennsylvania Eatery as Antisemitic

By Matis Glenn

The White House, along with several Pennsylvania elected officials, slammed a Sunday anti-Israel protest outside of an Israeli-style restaurant, accusing the establishment of “genocide” as antisemitic.

“It is antisemitic and completely unjustifiable to target restaurants that serve Israeli food over disagreements with Israeli policy,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said Monday. “This behavior reveals the kind of cruel and senseless double standard that is a calling card of Antisemitism.”

Bates added that President Joe Biden would “always stand up firmly against these kinds of undignified actions.”

Pro-Palestinian protesters converged on the Center City branch of the falafel chain Goldie, which is co-owned by an Michael Solomonov, an Israeli chef , and a corporate group. In video posted to social media, protestors are seen chanting “Goldie, Goldie, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide.”

Hundreds of protesters marched through Center City and University City on Sunday to demand a cease-fire in Gaza, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The chain is not active in Israel nor has Solomonov made any social media posts regarding the October 7 massacre or the current war against the Hamas terror group in Israel.

In fact, Solomonov’s twitter page contains retweets of Haaretz articles that were critical of the Israeli government.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro described the protests as “a blatant act of antisemitism — not a peaceful protest.” The falafel store was “targeted and mobbed because its owner is Jewish and Israeli. This hate and bigotry is reminiscent of a dark time in history.”

Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman wrote on social media that the protestors “could be protesting Hamas…or demanding the remaining hostages be immediately released.

“Instead they targeted a Jewish restaurant. It’s pathetic and rank antisemitism.”

“Philadelphia stands against this sort of harassment and hate,” Rep. Brendan Boyle wrote on social media. Boyle, who is a Democrat and whose district includes Philadelphia, added that  “targeting businesses simply because they’re Jewish owned is despicable.”

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney wrote on social media that the city’s Commission on Human Relations would investigate the incident.