The Modi�in City Council has voted to permit the city�s new center to operate seven days a week. The mayor, Chaim Bibas, permitted councilmen to vote their conscience, not imposing coalition discipline and the vote passed. The mayor views the vote as a victory, one that reflects his battle to permit residents of the city to take advantage of services on Shabbos as well as weekdays. The council approved the move in a 6-5 vote.

The vote brings the mayor�s dreams to the realm of reality as the businesses in the new center will operate 24/7, with the mayor explaining anyone seeking quiet should not live next to the new center.

The new center will include a bicycle path, playgrounds for the young, kiosks, benches, and much more. There will be a piazza and wide boulevards combining open spaces with commercial and residential buildings next o public buildings such as a library, cultural center, shul, kindergartens and government buildings. Mayor Chaim Bibas stated �The establishment of the center, which will be open all day, 24/7, will bring a new reality to the city. The city center will produce smaller less expensive units and most of them, 60%, will be 1 and 2 bedrooms, a mix that does not exist in the city today�.

The secular councilmen praise the vote that they believe will bring new life to Modi�in. However, the religious councilmen are not smiling, insisting the opening of businesses on Shabbos is contrary to the city�s character of being respectful to all of its residents.

MyNet adds that the vote not only permits operating the new center 24/7, but it amends the current regulations that limit the hours of operation. This means that businesses located elsewhere in Modi�in will be able to remain open until late at night if they so desire.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)