White House condemns ‘antisemitic’ rally outside Philadelphia falafel shop

The White House has condemned events outside an Israeli-style falafel shop in Philadelphia that became the focus of marchers at a “Flood Philly for Gaza” rally who chanted, “You can’t hide, we charge you with genocide” on Sunday.

It was “antisemitic and completely unjustifiable to target restaurants that serve Israeli food over disagreements with Israeli policy”, said the deputy press secretary, Andrew Bates.

He said the behavior “reveals the kind of cruel and senseless double standard that is a calling card of antisemitism”.

Video showed protesters chanting outside Goldie, a kosher restaurant owned by the American Israeli chef Michael Solomonov. Earlier, Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, condemned the protest as “blatant act of antisemitism – not a peaceful protest”.

“I can’t believe I even have to say this but targeting businesses simply because they’re Jewish-owned is despicable. Philadelphia stands against this sort of harassment and hate,” said the Democratic congressman Brendan Boyle on X.

Philadelphia has seen sustained pro-Palestinian rallies in recent weeks.

Last month, a group of protesters gathered outside Laser Wolf, a Middle Eastern restaurant owned by the same restaurant group as Goldie.

Solomonov first came to prominence with Zahav, an Israeli restaurant he opened in Philadelphia in 2008. His food empire has expanded with a number of Israeli- and Jewish-style restaurants in the city.

He has come under fire from proPalestinian activists for various ties to Israeli institutions. After the 7 October Hamas attacks, he pledged to donate 100% of sales from his restaurants to a non-profit Israeli medical aid group.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the protest on Sunday was led by the Philly Palestine Coalition. Marchers had made their way through the city center, at times turning their attention to supporters of the city’s NFL team

who were watching football in bars on Sunday evening. “While you’re watching, bombs are dropping,” they shouted.