58 heads of local authorities decry 'Supermarkets Bill' in letter to government

In a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri and Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked, 58 heads of local authorities expressed strong opposition to the "Supermarkets Bill," which grants broad powers to the Interior Minister to repeal municipal bylaws that permit the opening of businesses on the Shabbat.

In the letter, the signatories argue that the proposal seeks to change the existing relationship between the central government and local municipalities, and that this is a severe blow to the residents of the State of Israel and a drastic change of the status quo.