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🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

Haredi leaders threaten Israir boycott over Shabbat flights

From Jerusalem Post · (5m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Haredi leaders are threatening a consumer boycott of Israeli airline Israir over its continued operation on Shabbat.
  • The airline's CEO is scheduled to meet with haredi leaders to discuss the issue, which could impact other airlines and Rami Levy's supermarket chain.
  • A separate incident involved a cafe being set on fire due to its Saturday operations, with police investigating.

The Jerusalem Post reports on a significant clash between the ultra-Orthodox community and the Israeli aviation sector, specifically targeting Israir airline for its Shabbat flights. This situation highlights the ongoing tension between religious observance and secular life in Israel, particularly concerning the operation of businesses on the Jewish Sabbath.

Senior haredi (ultra-orthodox) figures have threatened a general consumer boycott of the Israeli airline Israir unless the carrier ceases operating on Shabbat

— N12 NewsReporting on the initial threat of a boycott.

The threat of a consumer boycott against Israir, owned by Rami Levy, owner of a major supermarket chain, carries substantial weight. Rami Levy's stores are a common sight in haredi neighborhoods, making a boycott a potent tool. This potential disruption extends beyond the airline industry, impacting Levy's broader business interests and underscoring the influence of religious factions on the Israeli economy.

The company's CEO, Uri Sirkis, has been summoned to meet with the haredi leaders in Jerusalem to discuss the issue

— N12 NewsDetailing the response from Israir's management.

The article also touches upon a disturbing incident where a cafe was firebombed for being open on Shabbat. This act of violence, occurring shortly after threats were made, underscores the extremist elements within some segments of the haredi community and the challenges faced by businesses operating on Saturdays. The police investigation into this arson highlights the security concerns arising from these religious-secular disputes.

A Ramat Gan cafe was set on fire over the weekend because it is open on Saturdays.

— N12 NewsReporting on the arson incident at the cafe.

From an Israeli perspective, this story is not just about airline schedules; it's a microcosm of the complex negotiations over religious pluralism and the public sphere. While Western media might focus on the business implications, for Israelis, it's about the daily negotiation of shared spaces and the influence of religious law on secular life. The Jerusalem Post, reflecting a significant segment of Israeli society, covers this with an understanding of the deep-seated cultural and religious dynamics at play.

The cafe owner received several threats prior to the arson

— N12 NewsProviding background information on the cafe incident.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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