Following the High Court of Justice ruling that supermarkets should not be opened in Tel Aviv on Shabbos, the coalition is forming a compromise with the chareidim. The compromise in the works is that the chareidim will give up retroactive legislation that will also ban the opening of supermarkets in Tel Aviv on Shabbos. In return, the Interior Ministry, which is run by Shas Chairman Minister Aryeh Deri, will have the authority to enforce labor laws on the day of rest. In addition, the coalition will advance a government proposal that the status quo will not permit the opening of businesses on days of rest in local authorities.

At a meeting at the beginning of the week, Deri demanded that a bill be drafted to give authority, not only to Ministry of Labor inspectors, but also Interior Ministry inspectors, to enforce labor laws on Shabbos. The exclusive authority will be taken from Minister of Labor Chaim Katz. Sources close to him said that Katz agreed in principle – but Katz’s office clarified that “there are no agreements” and that “the matter is still pending.” A political source said that “this is the obvious solution, if necessary, that Netanyahu will force Katz.”

If Interior Minister Deri accepts this authority, the chareidim believe that they will have the ability to reduce the chilul Shabbos by opening supermarkets in Tel Aviv, but not to close them. In order to prevent future cases of opening businesses in other cities, as in Tel Aviv, the Interior Minister will have authority over local authorities to open businesses on Shabbos or days of rest in the local authorities, so that the status quo will not be harmed.

In short, they are going to concede regarding stores opening on Shabbos in Tel Aviv, but are trying to put a mechanism into place that will prevent stores opening on Shabbos in other cities – well-aware this mechanism will eventually have to contend with High Court rulings as occurred in Tel Aviv.

While there is widespread support among chareidi politicians, MK Moshe Gafne remains opposed at this time.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)