Minister of the Interior (Likud) Gideon Saar has disqualified sections of the municipal bylaw attached to the Sabbath Rest Law that permit makolets (grocery stores/convenience stores) in Tel Aviv to open on Shabbos. His ruling results in the overwhelming number of stores operating in Tel Aviv/Jaffa on Shabbos to close their doors.

Speaking with Israel Radio early Monday morning 2 Tammuz 5774, Saar denies that he is wooing chareidim in the hope of gaining popularity, or that the move is motivated by his desire to replace PM Netanyahu as the Likud leader. Saar explains that even for one who is not frum, Shabbos is a day of rest, a family day, one that should not be accompanied by store owners having to open for fear of losing business to the competition.

The minister points out that the nation’s highest court ruled that the operation of Tel Aviv stores on Shabbos is a violation of the law and he is simply enforcing the law. Tel Aviv City Hall realized the stores were operating against the law and amended the law with municipal bylaws to give their chilul Shabbos legal backing in the city. It made provisions for stores to operate in commercial centers including the Tel Aviv Port, Jaffa Port and N’vei Tzedek and stores found inside gas stations. The minister disqualified the city’s bylaws and announced the stores will not be permitted to operate on Shabbos.

Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita praised the minister’s decision, telling the media the growing chilul Shabbos in the city has reached unprecedented proportions.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)