In a letter sent by the Director of the Interior Ministry, Mordechai Cohen, to the cities of Givatayim, Modi’in, Holon, Herzliya and Rishon Letzion, the Ministry declined the requests of the cities to change their city by laws to allow for the opening of certain businesses and stores on Shabbos.

Minister of Interior Aryeh Deri said that the request did not illustrate how opening these stores on Shabbos answers a dire need of the city.

Walla news site reported that the Mayors of the various cities who were denied claimed that the reason for the rejection w as to garner votes for the municipal elections this coming fall. Mayor of Givatayim Ron Kunik said: “The refusal of the Interior Minister was expected and is not surprising. The Minister is simply trying to create headlines and cater to his electorate.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)