Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai has responded to the city’s chief rabbi, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau. Rav Lau called on the mayor to abandon his plans to permits stores in Tel Aviv to open on Shabbos.

The mayor explains the plan calls for taking corrective action in small limited areas and in no way does the city plan to permits stores to open on Shabbos. The mayor cited that less than 1% of the city’s stores will be included in the new arrangement and this will be limited to areas that the move will not be viewed as offensive to those residents.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)