Interior minister orders closure of Tel Aviv stores on Shabbat

Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Sunday overturned a municipal by-law that allowed Tel Aviv supermarkets to remain open on Shabbat. However, he ruled that stores in a small number of specific commercial centers can continue to operate on Saturdays.

According to Sa'ar's ruling, only stores in the touristy Tel Aviv port, Jaffa port and Tachana (Tel Aviv's old railway station) areas, as well as convenience stores attached to gas stations, will be allowed to stay open on the Sabbath. The decision is effective immediately and will be implemented this Saturday.

In March, the Tel Aviv City Council approved an amendedby-lawthat allowed some supermarkets and convenience stores to do business on Saturdays. The amendment came after the Supreme Court ruled that Tel Aviv must issue clear guidelines for supermarkets and convenience stores. Until then, stores that stayed open on Shabbat were fined, a price the big chains were able to pay, but which harmed small businesses. The updated by-law allowed stores in certain areas of the city to stay open on Shabbat.

Sa'ar rejected the reasoning behind the by-law, saying: "These business owners are criminals, who for years operated illegally, opening their businesses on Shabbat despite the law, and now [according to the amended by-law] they will receive the 'reward' of being officially allowed to open their businesses on Shabbat.

"Following this path would encourage illegal behavior. Approving this by-law contradicts a foundational concept in law: Sinners will not be rewarded."

Sa'ar's decision evoked strong reactions. Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai said Sunday that the ruling "has made the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa and the entire State of Israel regress decades into the past."

"The delicate balance that we sought to preserve with the by-law best expresses the spirit of Tel Aviv, which is concerned with providing a day of rest on Shabbat as well as ensuring that required services are provided to allow people to live freely," Huldai said.

He promised that he would "continue to maintain Tel Aviv-Jaffa as the city that never sleeps, and will use all legal means at my disposal to maintain its character, including appealing to the court."

Israel Hofshit ("A Free Israel") executive director and Tel Aviv City Councilman Mickey Gitzin said that Sa'ar "chose to create an unnecessary rift and to create a storm in a place where an understanding that is fitting to the city's character had already been reached."

The president and CEO of Hiddush, Rabbi Uri Regev, said, "The interior minister's decision is disappointing and makes you wonder if he has already begun pandering to the ultra-Orthodox parties in the hope of having their support for his candidacy for prime minister. The municipality of Tel Aviv and the public will not accept this decision with its outsider motives. "

Several ministers and MKs also criticized the decision. Yesh Atid Leader and Finance Minister Yair Lapid said the choice was "puzzling, and we vehemently oppose it. It does not contribute to the Jewish character of the state; rather it creates tension in a city where until now, people lived in peace."

Likud sources said the ruling could hurt the party in the next election, as Tel Aviv residents would not forgive the party for it.

Speaking anonymously, one MK said that the decision "is outrageous and may be the result of political considerations -- to create peace with the haredi parties."

Another MK said, "It is possible that Sa'ar, who is looking to inherit [Benjamin] Netanyahu's position as prime minister, wants to build a good relationship with the leaders of the haredi parties."