A group of small business owners under the leadership of Arcaffe founder Tamir Barelko is threatening that if the government does not call off the nationwide lockdown immediately, they will open their businesses starting Sunday.
The group includes some 60,000 business owners from all parts of Israel. Barelko explained that while business owners had understood the need for the first lockdown, in March, the government had failed to help them and not provided them with any financial assistance.
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"They tried all sorts of tricks and did everything possible to give businesses a hard time," Barelko said.
"I'm not a COVID denier and I'm not talking about opening up event venues, but opening small businesses so people can put food on the table. By the end of this year, 100,000 small businesses will close – the most serious illness is the economy. People are losing homes, there's no vision, no exit plan, and no help," he added.
"Therefore, we are protesting and we'll open on Sunday. The ones who decide if that's legal or not are the courts. I sent a letter to the prime minister and haven't gotten an answer. We need to give people hope," Barelko said.
When Israel Hayom asks Barelko if the business owners are afraid of being fined, he responds, "Most businesses open today are doing it underhandedly. Cafes have become 'bakeries,' stores have become convenience stands. We'll bring whatever fines we get to court."
Sagi Blank, a dog trainer from Rishon Lezion, intends to go back to work on Sunday.
"In my field, there are people who really need our services. Scared of fines? I'm scared my landlord will throw me out on the street."
Amir Rotem, who owns the Pundak youth hostel in Jerusalem, has a café up and running, as well as a gallery and a dance club.
"I intend to operate symbolically," Rotem says. "I'll sell frozen margaritas and toasted sandwiches at the entrance. It's more a matter of rebellion than revenue, because right now my debt is sky-high."
Attorney Roee Cohen, president of LAHAV - the Israel Chamber of Independent Organizations and Businesses, said in response to the business owners' planned action that "Small businesses are being held hostage. Again, the government [on Wednesday] voted to keep a decision in place to close small businesses with up to 10 workers that don't have contact with the public, while dozens of people are allowed to gather in enclosed spaces. There is no reason for this bizarre decision."
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