AM:PM store in Tel Aviv
Photo: Yaron Brenner
Sa'ar passes buck on Shabbat bylaw
Retiring interior minister announces delay of decision on Tel Aviv legislation permitting supermarket operations on Jewish day of rest.
Outgoing Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced Wednesday morning that a Tel Aviv City municipal law on supermarkets' Shabbat operations would be delayed, with a decision to be taken by the next interior minister.
Sa'ar updated the Tel Aviv municipality regarding the decision in the morning hours. City Hall also received questions for clarification on the matter by the Interior Ministry's legal counsel.
In June, Sa'ar prevented the Tel Aviv municipality from legalizing the opening of market stores on Saturday.
Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
Sa'ar rejected several of the clauses in the municipal law, but approved, among others, allowing commercial complexes at the Tel Aviv Port, the Jaffa Port, "Hatachana" complex in Neve Tzedek and gas station convenience stores to open.
The municipality swiftly responded by declaring it will appeal to the High Court of Justice, but eventually decided to pass a new, softened bylaw in mid-August – after it was approved by the city council.
Sa'ar was set to decide whether to approve or reject the new municipal law, but due to his "time-out" from public life has announced that he will not make a "last-minute" ruling on such a sensitive matter.
In his statement, Sa'ar explained his decision. "In order to determine whether the bylaw is appropriate, it is difficult to avoid deliberating on a fundamental question which touches the deepest root in Israeli society."
The outgoing Likud politician said the municipal law was part of a larger fight on Jewish identity in Israel. "How do we – as the Israeli people – want the Israeli street to look on the weekly day of rest, on Shabbat? Do we want the Shabbat to be the identical or even similar to a weekday?
"This question will be decided de facto without any public discussion and in – historically speaking – relatively short time; the nature of our weekly day of rest will be changed beyond recognition."
Sa'ar added: "Part of the role of the leadership is to maintain the core values of the state as a Jewish and democratic state and to balance between the various interests of all sections of the public."
The retiring minister warned that the Shabbat issue should be debated thoroughly before a decision is taken. "The leadership is being asked to seriously consider the consequences of the legislation – as manipulative legislation like this may have consequence for (the country's) core values and for future generations."
