The BIG retail center chain announced that it will not force stores on its premises to strike on Tuesday, according to Reshet Bet. Yesterday, the network announced that it would join the protests against the reform of the judicial system and shut down its branches if the law to reduce the reasonability clause passes the first reading in the Knesset plenum. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded to the announcement and said: "I am boycotting the BIG Group until they retract and apologize. Business owners who interfere politically and boycott half the people deserve condemnation from all shades of the political spectrum." In response to this, dozens of high-tech companies and startups announced that they would transfer the budget for the purchase of their products specifically to stores operating in BIG complexes and that they would not buy from companies that would sue the chain. Despite the support, BIG stock fell by 3.22%. Related articles: Shopping center chain supports protests, sparks fraud claims Haredi Leader Orders Boycott of Sabbath-Violating Shopping Chain Another response to the announcement came from a store owner in the Beit Shemesh shopping complex. "We do not support this in any way. They are destroying our livelihood. It is to our detriment. In the posts on Facebook, everyone is calling for the boycott of BIG, and the anger is directed towards us." The Rami Levy supermarket chain announced that despite the shutdown announcement, their stores in BIG complexes would remain open. "Political opinions are not mixed with business. We serve regardless of religion, race, gender, and opinions. Our network is a public company committed to acting in a reliable manner for every investor and its customers." Activists of the right-wing Im Tirtzu movement demonstrated this morning in front of the house of the CEO of BIG in Tel Aviv. Matan Jarfi, the coordinator of the movement: said, "The neighbors threw water bags, the police tried to prevent us from demonstrating, but it won't work. The audacity of the BIG network will not pass in silence, the people will not submit to commercial bullying." The management of BiG announced that it still stands by its decision to close tomorrow the shopping centers in its possession as part of the day of disruption in protest of the advancement of the judicial reform. "At the same time, however many tenants there are in the centers who ask to open, we will respect their wishes and not prevent them from doing so. In order to encourage tenants to participate in the strike, stores that will join the shutdown of the centers tomorrow will not pay rent for that day," BiG said in a statement.
