Français
Español
English
Portuguese
“We had everything from little children coming into the store during a busy lunch screaming ‘Free Palestine’ while their parents videoed for social media.”
By United with Israel Staff
A Washington, D.C., restaurant owned by Israeli and Jewish partners has permanently closed after enduring nearly two years of harassment by BDS activists. The group openly admitted that the restaurant became a target following the October 7 Hamas attacks because one of its owners is Israeli.
Shouk, a kosher, plant-based eatery specializing in Mediterranean dishes, had multiple locations before the Israel-Hamas war and had earned praise from major outlets, including The Washington Post and the Food Network. Known for welcoming a diverse range of diners, the restaurant prided itself on creating an inclusive space.
Despite more than a decade of success, Shouk’s owners – Dennis Friedman, an American, and his Israeli partner – were forced to shut their doors after activists accused them of being “complicit in Israeli apartheid.”
Friedman told Fox Business that the restaurant always welcomed “people of all races, colors, and creeds to come together to enjoy food.” He also dismissed accusations of “appropriating” Palestinian cuisine, noting that many menu items are common throughout Mediterranean cooking.
Friedman said the ongoing protests made the dining experience unbearable.
“We had everything from little children coming into the store during a busy lunch screaming ‘Free Palestine’ while their parents videoed for social media,” he explained, describing the campaign as “very coordinated” with the goal of destroying the business.
He added that activists placed “posters of dead baby Palestinian children on the windows or on our seating outside” and carried out “vandalism, intimidation, and … maybe things we don’t even know” to disrupt operations.
Celebrating the closure, the D.C. branch of the BDS movement posted on social media, claiming Shouk was a key target of their campaign.
“Shouk WAS one of the main targets of our ‘APARTHEID? I DON’T BUY IT’ consumer boycott initiative!” the group wrote. They falsely asserted, “Much of what they served was Palestinian food that they culturally appropriated as ‘Israeli street food.’ Additionally, they imported Israeli ingredients for their dishes. TODAY WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT, AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2025, SHOUK HAS CLOSED ITS DOOR, PERMANENTLY!”
Do You Love Israel? Make a Donation - Show Your Support!
Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too!
Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion.
Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!
