New Law to End ‘Geographic Discrimination’ Against Settlers

YERUSHALAYIM
General view of the Samaria settlement of Ariel, on January 17, 2014. Photo by Flash 90.
General view of Ariel. (Flash90)

 The Ministerial Law Committee on Sunday discussed a measure proposed by MK Shuli Muallem-Refaeli (Jewish Home) to require delivery services and messenger services to serve customers throughout the country – including in Yehudah and Shomron.

There are still numerous businesses that refuse to make deliveries to customers who live in Yehudah and Shomron, while others charge a large “security” fee for sending their delivery people to drop off merchandise purchased at stores in Israel proper. The new law will penalize stores, delivery services, and others for discriminating against Israelis based on their place of residence.

The law will apply mostly to large corporations and chain stores. If a store or service fails to deliver a purchased product to a customer in Yehudah and Shomron, they could be at risk for fines of up to NIS 50,000, even if there was no damage to the customer.

“The unacceptable situation in which hundreds of thousands of Israelis do not receive equal service as other citizens do just because they live in a certain area must end,” said Muallem. “It is unacceptable that an appliance store in Tel Aviv or Yerushalayim will tell a customer that getting the purchase to their home is something they have to figure out. It is unreasonable that a furniture store is able to arrange for transport to Eilat and not to nearby towns in Yehudah and Shomron. The residents of these areas are equal citizens with equal rights, and they cannot be treated like second-class citizens.”

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