Secular activists have been angered by Jerusalem City Hall, which sent warning letters to owners of convenience stores operating in the center of the city on Shabbos, instructing them to close. The city explains there will be strict enforcement of the law, which prohibits them from operating on Shabbos. According to the Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) report, the city informed stores they will begin enforcing the law on Shabbos, 23 Adar II (April 2nd).

The city’s move is the result of mounting pressure from chareidi coalition partners, who threatened to topple the city government if the so-called religious status quo is not enforced.

Some of the store owners are now represented by attorney Yossi Habilio, who accuses City Hall of caving into chareidi pressure and changing the religious status quo in the city. In Hailio’s letter to city officials he accuses them of negatively impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of city residents in the “shady transaction” made with the chareidi parties in the city council. The store owners are petitioning the Jerusalem District Court against City Hall’s policy.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)