The City of Ashkelon has annulled the standard penalty built
into the municipal ordinance that prevents businesses from
operating on Shabbos and holidays. Following the unexpected
move, legal rights organization Betzedek has warned the
legislation is illegal and essentially nullifies the
municipal ordinance entirely.
Recently it came to light that shortly before the recent
municipal elections in the city, the former mayor passed an
ordinance annulling the penalty clause from a number of city
ordinances, including the law forbidding businesses and
entertainment spots from opening on days of rest. Last week
the ordinance was placed on the books.
Betzedek Director Atty. Rabbi Mordechai Green sent an urgent
letter to Benny Vaknin, the newly elected mayor, demanding
that the municipality restore the penalty clause to the
ordinance in question and even significantly increase the
amount of the fine imposed for violations.
The letter noted that the municipality law grants the
municipality the legal authority to legislate this type of
ordinance and to impose fines on violators. The law states
that the municipality does not have the prerogative to
absolve itself of responsibility placed on it by the
Municipalities Command. The annulment represents a total
breach of the walls of Shabbos, which is important to the
Jewish public and all residents of the city of
Ashkelon.
Rabbi Green also argues that populist considerations related
to the elections guided the city in annulling the penalties,
leaving the existing law a declaration with no real
substance. Based on these contentions the legislation is
illegal and should be canceled as soon as possible, he
writes.
A copy of the letter was sent to the Interior Minister, but
no reply has been received from the municipality or the
Interior Ministry.
