A new Shabbat law is causing strife in the Israeli coalition.
The law, proposed by Likud’s deputy interior minister Yaron Mazuz, will set much sterner fines for businesses which open on Shabbat.
Under the current labour laws, shops are not allowed to open on Shabbat, however, the enforcement is under the discretion of local authorities, most of which traditionally ignore those businesses which do choose to open.
The new law would make enforcement the responsibility of the interior ministry and fines for offenders could be as high as three times their profit on Shabbat – or even prison time.
Mr Mazuz insists that his main motivation is helping small businesses which are closed on Shabbat compete with large shopping centres and retail chains, however, the law’s opponents accuse him of pandering to strictly Orthodox party members.
Kulanu, the centrist party which is a member of the coalition, is opposed to the law and succeeded in removing it from the agenda of the cabinet’s legislative committee on Sunday. It is now scheduled to be voted on in two weeks.
The religious parties in the coalition are expected to support the law and Likud’s position is still unclear.
Kulanu MK Rachel Azaria, leading opposition to the proposal, said: “Before changes are made, we need to define what an Israeli Shabbat means today and it can’t only be an Orthodox definition.”
One proposal suggested by opposition parties is a period of dialogue followed by a new law which sets guidelines for which businesses will be allowed to remain open on Shabbat, mainly places of entertainment and restaurants and also some public transport.
3 thoughts on “Breaking Shabbat law could lead to fines or jail for Israelis”
Does this help shed any light on why Jews were quarantined and considered a threat to German security when WW II started?
Yes it does, Peter, and the Germany that had the integrity to consider their plight and do something about it were punished for so doing.
There are still Germans of integrity, and they are still being punished when they act accordingly.
Somebody should do something about that.
What’s that? Punish them before they do anything?
But they already are punished before they do anything.
They don’t have a country of their own.
I guess we’re all Germans now.
This ideology is why Idiot Bush 3 was asked ,if he would ,kill the child Adolf Hitler ?
This is why Jew Herod ordered all the babies killed ,looking to ,” kill the newborn Savior Jesus.
This is why the Egyptian children where killed by Yahweh during ” Passover “.
This is why Axis civilians where targeted in WW 2.
This is why Palestinians ,and other ME peoples are attacked by the Jews.
Subjective, cruel. exclusive.
Judaism a danger to all.
Does this help shed any light on why Jews were quarantined and considered a threat to German security when WW II started?
Yes it does, Peter, and the Germany that had the integrity to consider their plight and do something about it were punished for so doing.
There are still Germans of integrity, and they are still being punished when they act accordingly.
Somebody should do something about that.
What’s that? Punish them before they do anything?
But they already are punished before they do anything.
They don’t have a country of their own.
I guess we’re all Germans now.
This ideology is why Idiot Bush 3 was asked ,if he would ,kill the child Adolf Hitler ?
This is why Jew Herod ordered all the babies killed ,looking to ,” kill the newborn Savior Jesus.
This is why the Egyptian children where killed by Yahweh during ” Passover “.
This is why Axis civilians where targeted in WW 2.
This is why Palestinians ,and other ME peoples are attacked by the Jews.
Subjective, cruel. exclusive.
Judaism a danger to all.