Will the fashion chains open their stores next week? | Israel today

Owners of fashion chains in Israel warn that they are facing collapse and threaten to open the store in violation of the guidelines of the Ministry of Health • "If I do not open immediately, I will collapse"

• It's hard to see a mall closed.

  Dizengoff Center

  Photography: 

  Coco

The Association of Commercial, Fashion and Catering Chains in Israel, which unites about 400 retail chains spread over about 18,000 stores throughout the country, is calling on the government to open trade, as early as next Sunday.

In a letter issued to government ministries they write that, "We announce that we will not be able to meet the extreme exit plan of the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health has decided not to count the business sector. The Ministry of Health does not understand what the whole world already understands, the way to defeat the corona Of the business sector. "

They also write in the letter that if they are not included in the list of store openings already in the first phase of the closure, ie this coming Sunday, they will open businesses in cities that are not considered red cities.

"In the first wave we were closed for about two months. In the second wave we also cooperated in light of the government's initial announcement that the closure will last until the evening of Simchat Torah. Yesterday we were informed that according to the proposed outline, the fashion chains will only open on November 15 and restaurants only on November 29." Shahar Turgeman, chairman of the board of the Brill Group, which unites the brands: Nautica, Timberland, Lee Cooper, Gali and Nine West. "We produce half a year ahead and can not act on the whims of politicians.

"Summer and autumn collection is lost, it is not clear why it is not possible to open in cities that are not red, we do not let any customer enter without a mask, we keep the rules of the purple mark and put customers according to the layout of the trading area and quantity accordingly, we can not be told to wait another month." He says.

According to him, every day a closure of millions of shekels goes down the drain.

"Unfortunately, the government does not understand what it is like to run a business. Hundreds of businesses will no longer be able to exist, this is irreversible damage to the economy and hundreds of thousands more unemployed," Turgeman clarifies.

Itamar Tzadok, the owner of a chain that suits me, says that, "I have never broken a law and I did not think I would be forced to do so. I am a citizen who loves this country and pays it a lot of taxes every year but there is simply no choice, either open the shops or go bankrupt. .

Albert Rahimi, owner of the Ace Cube fashion chain, says, "I have not yet repaid the loan I took to finance the goods I planned to sell on Passover and for the Tishrei holidays I just increased the lines of credit to fill the stores with goods. I really do not know how I will get back on my feet. "The situation is critical, it's crazy that the government does not understand our plight. This indifference will leave a lot of dead on the ground."

Moshe Golbari, owner of Golbari for women's fashion and Scara for beauty products, adds, "We set up the business with both hands in 1978. We employ over a thousand workers in two chains, my heart breaks when I see the existential distress of my employees."

Haim Bar Sheshet, owner of the suede shoe chain concludes, "I'm fighting for the house now. The debts are drowning me and I owe cash. There's no way I'll be able to survive until mid-November. If I do not open immediately, I will collapse."