OAKLAND — Fathi Abdulrahim Harara had little to say Wednesday about alleged confrontations with Jewish clients which have positioned his Telegraph Avenue café within the crosshairs of federal prosecutors.
As a substitute, Harara targeted his first public remarks a couple of Division of Justice lawsuit towards him on Israel’s siege of Gaza, which has killed tens of hundreds of Palestinians and, up to now month, led dozens to die of hunger.
“My words feel small in the rubble of lives lost,” Harara mentioned, referencing the countless stream of footage from Gaza that has broadcast globally the “charred remains of my people.”
“Death has crept into every crevice of life in Gaza,” he added. “And yet, despite the violence we have endured and continue to face, my heart remains faithfully tethered to (justice).”
Harara owns Jerusalem Espresso Home, a small Palestinian-inspired café within the metropolis’s Temescal district the place the enterprise proprietor is accused by federal prosecutors of verbally berating a number of clients final yr as a result of they wore hats displaying the Star of David, a logo of Jewish religion.
Video of the final of those confrontations — between Harara and a person who had beforehand filmed different, related run-ins — went viral on-line, reportedly inviting condemnation of Harara’s actions by various California’s elected leaders, together with Rep. Adam Schiff.
Civil rights legal professional Glenn Katon addresses the media and group members throughout a press convention in assist of the Jerusalem Espresso Home held on the East Bay Group Area in Oakland, CA on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The espresso home and it’s proprietor Abdulrahim Harara have been accused of antisemitic discrimination in three separate lawsuits introduced forth by the Division of Justice (DOJ), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Brandeis Middle (BC).(Don Feria for Bay Space Information Group)
Along with the Division of Justice, the enterprise has additionally individually been sued by the Anti-Defamation League and the Brandeis Middle over Harari’s alleged makes an attempt to take away clients of a protected class from his enterprise.
Notably, the enterprise proprietor additionally discovered assist from native Jewish critics of Israel, such because the activist group Jewish Voice for Peace and Rabbi Cat Zavis of the Beyt Tikkun synagogue in Berkeley, a progressive congregation that’s consultant of rising anti-Zionist sentiment within the East Bay.
“Standing in solidarity with Palestine,” Zavis mentioned Wednesday, “is the most Jewish thing we could do.”
Harari, although, has additionally discovered himself on the defensive after being accused of blatant anti-Semitism towards Jewish clients, and is now dealing with a federal lawsuit.
Prosecutors say a person carrying such a hat had been sitting exterior the espresso store in June 2024 when Harara got here exterior to verbally berate him. Two months later, the identical man returned — this time with out a hat — however Harari acknowledged him.
“You’re the guy with the hat,” Harari allegedly instructed the person, in response to the federal lawsuit. “You’re the Jew. You’re the Zionist. We don’t want you in our coffee shop. Get out.”
A 3rd incident, in October 2024, concerned Harari telling a person seated along with his son at Jerusalem Espresso Store to go away as a result of the person was carrying a “violent hat,” per a viral video of the encounter.
Store proprietor Abdulrahim Harara listens to speeches made throughout a press convention in assist of the Jerusalem Espresso Home held on the East Bay Group Area in Oakland, CA on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The espresso home and it’s proprietor Abdulrahim Harara have been accused of antisemitic discrimination in three separate lawsuits introduced forth by the Division of Justice (DOJ), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Brandeis Middle (BC).(Don Feria for Bay Space Information Group)
The person, Oakland resident Jonathan Hirsch, fired again that Harari couldn’t ask him to go away “because of my religion,” however the enterprise proprietor denied that was the explanation.
“Are you a Zionist?” the video depicts Harari demanding to know. Hirsch declines to reply, however Harari presses on: “Then get out!”
Hirsch had been concerned in a number of earlier public confrontations recorded on video, together with a number of fiery arguments about politics, the San Francisco Commonplace reported.
These rallying behind Harari, in the meantime, described the espresso store as a welcoming atmosphere, the form of Oakland storefront that opposes oppression in any type.
“What took place was a clear act of provocation,” mentioned Monadel Herzallah, an in depth pal of Harari’s, “designed to bait business people into a reaction for the sake of whitewashing extremist, racist policies. This was not about justice; it was a trap.”
Lawyer Walter Riley addresses the media and group members throughout a press convention in assist of the Jerusalem Espresso Home held on the East Bay Group Area in Oakland, CA on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The espresso home and it’s proprietor Abdulrahim Harara have been accused of antisemitic discrimination in three separate lawsuits introduced forth by the Division of Justice (DOJ), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Brandeis Middle (BC).(Don Feria for Bay Space Information Group)
One other speaker took the Star of David controversy head on, saying it got here to actual prominence solely when it was chosen because the central image of Israel’s nationwide flag by the First Zionist Congress within the late Eighties.
“As a Jew, when I see someone with a prominent Star of David, especially if it is accompanied by the colors blue and white, it strikes fear even in me,” mentioned AJ Pluss, an area chapter member of the Worldwide Jewish Anti-Zionist Community.
Oakland has discovered itself beneath intense scrutiny by pro-Israel organizations and elected leaders in almost two years for the reason that Oct. 7 assault by Hamas killed 1,200 individuals and took over 200 hostage.
The town was among the many first within the Bay Space to name for a ceasefire to Israel’s subsequent assault of Gaza, which the native well being ministry there estimates has killed over 60,000 individuals.
Israel’s blockade of meals, medication and provides to the area has led greater than 60 individuals to die of hunger, the Related Press reported, regardless of denials by the nation’s leaders.
The more and more determined scenario overseas took heart stage Wednesday, leaving Harari’s authorized scenario with the Division of Justice virtually a facet be aware to his supporters’ broader name for Palestinian civil rights.
“I hope that we will expose these cases for what they are,” mentioned Glen Katon, one other legal professional reprsenting Harari, “which is, a hypocritical attack on a really beautiful and loving part of our community.”
Initially Printed: July 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM PDT
