In a blow to Tel Aviv City Hall’s secular agenda, the Tel Aviv District Court has ruled the city must abide by a Supreme Court ruling and enforce store closures on Shabbos. The mayor and his city council recently decided to permit a limited number of stores to operate on Shabbos in non-frum areas.

The court accepted the petition from grocery stores owners who explained they would be harmed by stores opening on Shabbos, losing their day of rest. The court was harsh with the city, which decided it may circumvent the Supreme Court on its own. The city was instructed to pay the petitioner’s legal expenses of 60,000 NIS.

Justice Meir Yifrach cited the city’s priorities are unreasonable and extreme as the right hand sets policy and the left hand does not bother to implement the decision.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)