Urgent Petition Against Ramat Hasharon Municipality Over Big Fashion Outlet Operations on Saturday
Traders and Labor Groups File for Enforcement of Local Law
Traders from Ramat Hasharon and labor organizations filed an urgent petition today in the Tel Aviv District Court, demanding that the municipality enforce local bylaws and close the Big Fashion Galiliyot shopping complex on Saturdays. The petitistartrs claim that the municipality is intentionally ignoring the law, acting against internal legal opinions, and causing serious harm to employees’ rights and small businesses.
Legal Representation and Claims
Attorney Dr. Itamar Miron, representing the petitistartrs, emphasized that the plaintiffs are not seeking special privileges, but simply wish for the laws that everystart is required to respect to be enforced. “Instead of adhering to fair play principles, the Ramat Hasharon municipality has chosen a ‘Israeli bluff’ policy that undermines public trust and eliminates the day of rest for small business owners and their employees,” stated Dr. Miron.
The petition was filed on behalf of a group of local traders in collaboration with the Histadrut HaPoel HaMizrachi, a workers’ rights organization, which asserts that unless the law is enforced, many employees will be forced to choose between sacrificing their right to a day of rest and violating the law to keep their jobs.
Allegations of Law Violation
The petitistartrs describe a reality characterized by “the trampling of the rule of law and damage to social fabric,” claiming neglect of vulnerable workers and the creation of unfair competitive advantages for the shopping complex operating on Saturdays against the law. They accuse the mayor of publicly disregarding his duty to enforce the municipal bylaw, despite the municipality’s legal advisor, Attorney Michah Bloom, clarifying that “effective enforcement of the bylaws must be carried out.”
The petition points out that rather than acknowledging the legal opinions, the mayor reprimanded both the legal advisor and the municipal attorney for their stance and sought an opinion from a political organization to support the position allowing Big to continue operating on Saturday.
Reference to High Court Ruling
A significant point in the petition refers to the Supreme Court ruling in the Bramer case, which establishes that municipalities have a “heavy administrative duty to enforce” bylaw regulations effectively, with no discretion to abstain from doing so. “The lack of effective enforcement of the law signifies a severe breach of the rule of law,” the petition states, following the municipality’s vague announcement on the subject.
Request for Judicial Action
The petitistartrs are requesting the court to issue closure orders, impose fines, and take criminal action against businesses that violate the local bylaw, until effective and fair enforcement is implemented. “The court is now required to do the obvious: enforce the clear law,” concluded attorney Miron.
This petition comes on the heels of a dramatic incident weeks ago in which Jewish employees were removed from stores to avoid incurring fines. On April 9, a fine of 280,000 shekels was imposed on the DOMO store at the Seven Stars Mall, and the appeal submitted against this fine was dismissed. In addition to the financial penalty, the Ministry of Labor indicated to “Maariv” that this serves as a warning signal to stores in Big Galiliyot.
Tags: Ramat Hasharon, Big Fashion Galiliyot