Washington DC Israeli-Kosher Restaurant Chain Closes After Gaza War Protests

Shouk, a plant-based kosher and Mediterranean street-food chain in Washington, D.C., permanently closed its last locations following two years of protests and boycotts by pro-Palestinian activists over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The local activist group DC for Palestine led a boycott campaign accusing the restaurant and its Israeli and Jewish-American co-owners of cultural appropriation and complicity in Israeli apartheid, claims which co-owner Dennis Friedman vehemently denied, emphasizing Shouk's mission to unite people through food. Despite its popularity and positive reviews, Shouk's business suffered significantly after protests intensified, especially near Georgetown University. The restaurant had shifted its branding from "Tel Aviv street food" to Mediterranean fare and displayed its name in both Hebrew and Arabic to reflect inclusivity. Activists credited the boycott with the closure, framing it as a victory against perceived cultural erasure and Israeli ties, while Friedman maintained that the intent was to create a gathering place for all races and creeds. This closure is part of a broader trend of Israeli and kosher eateries facing vandalism and boycotts amid ongoing tensions stemming from the Gaza conflict.