Remember the owner of Sydney restaurant Cairo Takeaway, who claimed his staff were targeted by a hidden camera set-up, in a bid to get them saying something inflammatory relating to the conflict in Gaza?
The Jewish man involved, Ofir Birenbaum, launched defamation proceedings against the restaurant’s owner and a staff member, while the restaurant countersued, alleging that he entered the premises with journalists to “ambush” staff as part of a stunt rather than for regular dining.
The parties have just reached a settlement. But the issue seems anything but settled.
The Daily Telegraph has apologised to a popular Middle Eastern restaurant for “causing distress” after it sent a pro-Israel activist to the Sydney eatery as part of its so-called operation “undercover Jew”.
The apology was published on page two of the News Corp newspaper as part of an agreed joint statement to resolve a now settled legal dispute between the Newtown restaurant Cairo Takeaway and the pro-Israel activist Ofir Birenbaum.
The restaurant and Birenbaum also published the joint statement on their social media accounts, with Cairo also apologising unreservedly to Birenbaum.
But, just hours after the agreed statement published, the dispute ignited again after Birenbaum posted an additional “personal statement” claiming truth won and that he was “completely vindicated”.
His lawyer, Rebekah Giles, also labelled it “an important win for Ofir Birenbaum and the Australian Jewish community”.
Lawyers for Cairo Takeaway have responded, accusing Birenbaum and his lawyer of making statements that appeared to be inconsistent with the agreed joint statement “in both word and spirit”.
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Around the same time Birenbaum posted this statement to his 4,000 followers on Instagram, he also posted a personal statement saying “the truth wins”.
“This was never a stunt. It was legitimate public interest journalism at a time when antisemitism in Sydney was escalating, visible, and dangerous, and heading towards more violent and hateful atrocities,” he said.
“I stand by what we did and why we did it.”
He also shared a post by Australian Jewish News which said that Birenbaum had “won” the defamation proceedings.
Giles, his lawyer from the firm Giles George, wrote a statement saying: “Public interest journalism matters – especially when it holds up a mirror to ugly sentiment and unlawful discrimination. This exercise should have been defended by all media – regardless of where they sit on the spectrum.”
Lawyers for Cairo Takeaway released a response disputing the claims.
“Cairo Takeaway did not intend to make any statement about the confidential settlement of the legal dispute between them and Ofir Birenbaum & The Daily Telegraph,” the statement from O’Brien Criminal and Civil Lawyers said.
“A joint statement had been agreed between the parties, and it was specifically agreed that nothing inconsistent with that statement would be published.
“Unfortunately, it appears that Mr. Birenbaum and his lawyers have seen fit to state things that are inconsistent with that joint statement in both word and spirit.
“Cairo Takeaway disputes Mr. Birenbaum’s categorisation of the ‘Undercover Jew’ operation that he engaged in with the Daily Telegraph as ‘legitimate public interest journalism’.
“It is hard to believe that the Daily Telegraph would apologise for the distress it caused to the staff and owner of the Cairo Takeaway if it currently viewed the story ‘as legitimate public interest journalism.’
“They all knew the Cairo Takeaway was a business that supported Palestine. That was why it had been selected for their “Undercover Jew” operation.
“It is sad that what was meant to be a ‘positive example’ of a ‘constructive and satisfactory’ resolution is now attempting to be twisted.”
Actually, the only thing being twisted here is Cairo Takeaway’s characterization of themselves as being merely a business that “supports Palestine.” Besides being supporters of terrorism, they have also revealed themselves to be antisemitic. And I do not even need an undercover sting operation to show it.
They just shared with approval this clip of hideous antisemite Dan Bilzerian being hideously antisemitic:
Sydney restaurant Cairo Takeaway, which claims it was targeted for an “Undercover Jew” operation just because it is "a business that supported Palestine", has shared with approval a clip of hideous antisemite @DanBilzerian being hideously antisemitic https://t.co/m9R9m5RAGG pic.twitter.com/CJF9N85x2t
— David Lange (@Israellycool) March 30, 2026
That’s right, Cairo Takeaway. You are antisemitic to your rotten core.
And if you don’t like me saying that, sue me.
Update: In case you are wondering, it is feature, not a bug.
