Jerusalem sees backlash over Shabbat shop closures

Plans to enforce a ban on stores in central Jerusalem opening on Shabbat drew fire on Wednesday, with at least one business owner vowing to disregard the new ordinance and the head of the left-wing Meretz party claiming discrimination.

Store owners received letters this week informing them that their shops were subject to enforcement of the closure law, according to which dining and entertainment venues can remain open on Shabbat in Jerusalem, while establishments that engage in regular commerce cannot. The current enforcement rules concern eight businesses in the center of Jerusalem, reported Channel 2.

One Jerusalem store owner vowed he would keep his store open on Shabbat in response to the new policy that will force the stores to shut or face heavy fines.

“I do not intend to close the store. I learned that in Tel Aviv the fine is 730 shekels,” said Gideon Sivoni, whose store has been open on Shabbat for 20 years.

Sivoni added that he had not previously received closure notices and that the law was not enforced in the past.

Sivoni said that he has not had any problems with the ultra-Orthodox community. “Our relations are fine, and in my opinion in the Haredi community everyone is not in agreement with what happened today.”

Over the past few years, the city council turned a blind eye to a number of supermarkets and kiosks that opened in the center of town.

Cinema trade-off?

Meretz head Zahava Gal-on slammed the new policy on Wednesday, and accused Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat of infringing on the rights of secular Jerusalem residents in an attempt to “placate” the ultra-Orthodox community’s ire over the decision to allow the newly built YES Planet cinema complex to open on Shabbat.

“Nir Barkat decided to punish secular Jerusalemites and owners of stores that are still open on Shabbat in the center of town — stores that serve primarily the secular people and the many tourists [in Jerusalem], and for whom a significant part of their income is earned on Shabbat,” she said.

“You crushed the right to freedom from religion of the free secular community,” Gal-on continued. “In my view, there is only one emotion invoked by Barkat’s blatant infringement on businesses and the freedoms of the public that elected him: shame.”

The letter sent to business owners stated that there would be strict enforcement in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods, the Jewish quarter of the Old City and parts of the center of town. Meanwhile, enforcement would be reduced in secular neighborhoods Ein Karem, Talpiot, Atarot and the southwestern parts of the city.

The City Council’s announcement came four days after thousands of ultra-Orthodox men took to the streets to demand the closure of the new movie theater complex.

The council denied the new decision was connected to the demonstration, saying it was already agreed to a month ago, and came after a High Court ruling ordering enforcement of existing laws demanding that shops be shuttered in Tel Aviv on the day of rest.

The decision announced Tuesday, proposed by the municipality’s legal adviser Eli Malka, effectively carved up the city into areas with differing levels of Shabbat enforcement.

“There is no change in the law or the status quo practiced for years in Jerusalem whereby cinemas in the city were allowed to remain open on Shabbat. The municipality’s attorney defined different areas of the city in which enforcement will be reduced and other areas in which enforcement will be increased,” a statement released by the mayor’s office said.

“It should be noted that the issue does not apply to the Arab neighborhoods in the city. It is important to stress that, in accordance with the law and the status quo, movie theaters, restaurants and entertainment venues will continue operating as normal [on Shabbat],” the statement added.

The new policy will go into effect on September 5, according to Army Radio.

Avi Lewis contributed to this report.