Protest Outside Philly Restaurant Was 'Antisemitic,' Gov Shapiro says

PHILADELPHIA — Pennsylvania's governor took to social media to decry protestors who gathered outside a Jewish, Israeli owned restaurant in Philadelphia Sunday night.

A group of people waving Palesitian flags protested outside Goldie on Sansom Street in Center City Philadelphia Sunday, accusing its of supporting the genocide of Palestinian people by Israel's government.

Goldie is owned by Michael Solomonov, who is Israeli and whose brother died in combat while volunteering with the Israel Defense Force.

While there were no reported acts of violence committed by the group, Gov. Josh Shaprio said the incident was not a peaceful protest, but an act of blatant antisemitism.

"A restaurant was targeted and mobbed because its owner is Jewish and Israeli," he said on social media, sharing video of the protest. "This hate and bigotry is reminiscent of a dark time in history."

Protestors in the video could be heard chanting "Goldie, Goldie, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide."

Critics of Israel allege the state has been enacting the legal definition of genocide on Palestinian people.

According to the Geneva Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

• Killing members of the group;
• Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
• Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
• Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
• Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group

The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 15,200 Palestinians have been killed since the war broke out. Israel officials say about 1,200, including civilians and IDF soldiers, were killed by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 in Israel.

Solomonov has supported the United Hatzalah of Israel, which is akin to the Red Cross and provides free emergency medical care to Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-2nd District) said "targeting businesses simply because they’re Jewish owned is despicable.

"Philadelphia stands against this sort of harassment and hate," he said on social media.