In a pretty secular state - they have blue laws forbidding stores to be open Sunday. Think about it this way too: if stores are open on the sabbath, workers will need to work on that day. Should workers be forced to work on the sabbath? Also, other businesses lose out and are forced to also work on the sabbath

I must say that I do enjoy the few shabbats that I have spend in Jerusalem with its special holy flavor of businesses closed and people enjoying LIFE together and not shopping. Coming from the Western world where Saturday is a going out day, in Jerusalem it is a being together day and I do enjoy visiting there.

I understand the need to maintain a traditional atmosphere in Jerusalem, but it's not all haredim. There are many secular Jews that live & work there & keep the city going. They need some entertainment on their day off. People need to let othes live & let live. I won't tell the haredim how to live & they need to do the same.

Jerusalem is a holy city and may NOT be defiled. Truthfully all cities in the Jewish country are holy but Jerusalem is the Capital and the holiest.