The Jerusalem municipality recently ordered the closure of a volunteer-run coffee stand that had been operating on Shabbat. The stand was located in the vicinity of Cafe Basimta, a local business that recently stopped operating on the Jewish Sabbath following sustained protests from Haredi residents. Volunteers from the liberal political group Hitorerut, who were operating the stand, reported that city inspectors arrived on-site and stated they were acting under direct orders from higher-level municipal officials.

The incident has reignited tensions regarding the public character of Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Hitorerut representatives have characterized the municipality's intervention as a capitulation to religious extremists, arguing that the city is effectively enforcing a religious agenda by removing a service that was intended to support secular residents. The group’s leadership emphasized that while Cafe Basimta may have closed due to pressure, they intend to continue their efforts to maintain a presence in the city. The municipality has not provided a detailed public explanation for the specific order to remove the stand, other than the inspectors' claim that the directive came from senior leadership. The situation highlights the ongoing friction between Jerusalem's secular and Haredi populations over the use of public space and the enforcement of traditional religious restrictions in the city.