The ruling specifically ordered the city to try harder to force the
large popular supermarket chains Tiv Tam and AM:PM to close on the
Jewish Sabbath, noting that the fines currently imposed on Tiv Tam and
AM:PM are too small to achieve the objective of the law mandating their
closure on Shabbat.
Tel Aviv
Israel’s Supreme Court Orders Tel Aviv Supermarket Chains To Close On Shabbat
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Israel’s Supreme Court has just ruled that the City of Tel Aviv must enforce laws calling for businesses to be closed on Shabbat, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The ruling specifically ordered the city to try harder to force the large popular supermarket chains Tiv Tam and AM:PM to close on the Jewish Sabbath, noting that the fines currently imposed on Tiv Tam and AM:PM are too small to achieve the objective of the law mandating their closure on Shabbat.
The city has 60 days to find a way to enforce the ruling.
Today’s ruling overturned a previous ruling by the District Court of Administrative Affairs that rejected a petition from small grocery owners who argued that by opening on Saturdays, the big supermarket chains are violating the 1968 Business Licensing Law, the 1951 Hours of Work and Rest Law, and a 1980 city bylaw governing businesses opening and closing times.
The small groceries claimed they were unable to compete against the large stores that opened on Shabbat.
In response to today’s ruling, the city insisted that Tel Aviv will find a way to remain open, secular and free.
"Tel Aviv-Jaffa will continue to be a free city. We will study the court ruling and find a solution that will balance the Sabbath rest and the freedom that the city has allowed until now,” it reportedly said.
[Hat Tip: Ruthie.]