Givatayim Mayor Ron Connik plans to amend the municipal bylaws to permit the opening of businesses on Shabbos, following suit from Tel Aviv. MK Moshe Gafne on Sunday, 6 Teves, expressed opposition to the planned move. Speaking with Yated Neeman, Gafne explained “This is a decision we cannot accept. We will discuss the matter and find a solution to make sure it is not implemented.”
In the past, Gafne has tried to push a bill that would retroactively reverse amended municipality laws permitting businesses to operate on Shabbos and thereby circumventing the High Court of Justice ruling permitting supermarkets to operate on Shabbos. However, he lacks support in Knesset for such a move. The Shabbos bill initiated by Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri does not include Tel Aviv amid the realization if they seek the required support for the legislation, a bill cannot bypass the High Court of Justice ruling on Tel Aviv.
MK (Bayit Yehudi) Betzalel Smotrich has sent a letter to the heads of the chareidi factions, Gafne, Aryeh Deri and Yaakov Litzman, as well as party colleague Uri Ariel, citing something must be done to prevent Connik from amending his city’s bylaws, which could chas v’sholom lead to a widespread trend.
“Givatayim is liable to be the first domino chas v’sholom and mark the direction for other mayors, so we must stop this deterioration here and now,” Smotrich wrote.
“Smotrich claimed that the prime minister should be asked to intervene in this matter and to make it clear to him” unequivocally that if Givatayim amends its bylaws, then the coalition will demand including Tel Aviv in Deri’s bill, which is currently not retroactive. At present, the chareidi parties have been willing to leave Tel Aviv out of the formula since the High Court already ruled but Smotrich feels that if the trend now moves to Givatayim, the response should be to fight for Tel Aviv as well, to include it in the Shabbos bill which is now not retroactive.
Smotrich wants to send a stern message to Givatayim City Hall, that moving ahead with amending the city’s bylaws as planned with result in serious consequences.
A kenos was held in Givatayim’s Beit Knesset Gevuros Mordechai on motzei Shabbos to protest against amending the city’s bylaws to open the door to widespread Chilul Shabbos.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Unfortunately these lifetime politicians will do NOTHING if it is implemented. These Mayors know that the Charedie Knesset members are only joking. We all saw the spectacle Litzman made of himself a few weeks ago when he “threatened” to leave, then he “resigned”, then before you can say boo, he was right back at his desk – chillul Shabbos and all.
So these “Charedie” politicians are full of it. NONE OF THEM WILL EVER RESIGN!!! EVER!
It’s too bad they don’t have term limits in Israel.