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yesterday

Oakland Palestinian Café Denounces DOJ’s Antisemitism Lawsuit as Political Attack

At a press conference, the owner called the Title II injunction a government-driven effort to muzzle his cafe’s pro-Palestinian advocacy.

Jerusalem Coffee House owner Fathi Abdulrahim Harara poses for a portrait in the coffee shop following a press conference in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Jerusalem Coffee House was recently sued by the U.S. Dept. of Justice for alleged antisemitism.
Proprietor Abdulrahim Harara during a press conference in support of the Jerusalem Coffee House held at the East Bay Community Space in Oakland, CA on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The coffee house and it’s owner Abdulrahim Harara have been accused of antisemitic discrimination in three separate lawsuits brought forth by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Brandeis Center (BC).(Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)
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Overview

  • Attorney General Pamela Bondi filed a Title II civil rights suit seeking an injunction against Jerusalem Coffee House for allegedly refusing service to Jewish customers in June 2024 and October 2024 incidents.
  • Owner Fathi Harara held a July 30 press conference to oppose the lawsuit and frame it as an attempt to silence Palestinian solidarity voices.
  • Harara’s attorney Glenn Katon characterized the DOJ case as a “cut-and-paste job” that relies on prior private suits without independent investigation.
  • The cafe has launched a fundraiser to cover mounting legal expenses and has raised over $18,000 toward its $100,000 goal.
  • Supporters from Jewish Voice for Peace and the ational Jewish Anti-ZAnti-Zionist Network joined the event to condemn the suit and defend the business’s political expression.