Israel's Ofer and Azrieli retail groups have decided to flout government orders and opened a number of their shopping centers on Friday morning, including the Kiryon Mall in Kiryat Bialik, Ofer Grand in Beersheba and the Ofer Grand Mall in Petah Tikva.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Azrieli Malls opened the Ayalon mall in Ramat Gan; Azrieli Haifa; and Azrieli Modi'in. However, not all retailers in the malls opened their doors. Clothing company H&M, for example, did not reopen its stores against government regulations.
The Gazit Globe mall group has decided to remain closed in accordance with public health regulations.
Inspectors arrived at the mall on Friday morning but did not issue any fines.
While a joint forum representing the shopping mall groups worked with the National Security Council to hammer out a framework that would allow them to reopen, the Health Ministry did not approve it. The forum was established to facilitate dialogue between major retail players and policymakers on issues that affect the sector.
One official told Israel Hayom that the malls that opened on Friday did so "according to the framework the [forum] arrived at. There was discussion and an agreement with the Health Ministry and the National Security council … There is pressure from the businesspeople to open the malls, so if a merchant wants to open – they can."
According to the same official, after the government decided to allow streetfront shops and open-air shopping centers to open for business, 15% of retail outlets were open to the entire population, thus creating "long lines and crowding."
"The malls are not the problem – they are the solution," the official said.
The official went on to say that Finance Minister Israel Katz was in favor of reopening malls, and the retail groups hoped that they would present a reopening proposal on Sunday.
"There are businesses being strangled that want to open. They are saying, 'Max Stock' discount stores are open, we can sell hand sanitizer, too."
The measures proposed by the retail group forum to ensure that malls can open for business without turning into hotbeds of infection include "COVID patrols" that will be responsible for documenting cases of shoppers not wearing masks; preventing crowds; enforcing limits on the number of customers inside stores; and issuing warnings and fines to shoppers who violate the rules. These patrols will be able to use mall security cameras to spot crowding and break it up, as well as employing online technology.
In addition, the forum intends to encourage shopping at all times of the day to space out arrivals, and instate designated hours for at-risk populations, such as the elderly. The malls plan to use social media and phone apps to report heavy traffic to deter more shoppers from arriving when the facilities are at capacity. Waiting areas will be established outside stores, and the patrols will be responsible for making sure that social distancing is observed.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
