Windows of Herzliya pasta franchise smashed, allegedly because it opens on Shabbat

Windows of a Pasta Basta branch in Herzliya were smashed overnight Thursday-Friday, allegedly because it opens on Shabbat. Mayor Yariv Fisher condemned the act on Facebook, calling it a serious criminal act and vowing to promote Herzliya as a 'beacon of liberalism'. The same shopping center previously saw the Othello ice cream branch vandalized three times, leading it to close on Shabbat in February. Fisher said he spoke with the restaurant owner and agreed on steps to support the complex, including staffing the municipality's cafe seven days a week.

Windows of a Pasta Basta branch in Herzliya were smashed overnight Thursday-Friday, allegedly because it opens on Shabbat. Mayor Yariv Fisher expressed outrage on Facebook, calling it a serious criminal act and vowing to bring those responsible to justice. He emphasized that the attack targets the core values of Herzliya, a largely secular city, and said he would continue to promote the shopping complex. The same center previously saw the Othello ice cream branch vandalized three times, leading it to close on Shabbat in February. Fisher said he spoke with the restaurant owner and agreed on steps to support the complex, including staffing the municipality's cafe seven days a week. He vowed the vandalism would not deter him from promoting Herzliya as a 'beacon of liberalism'. The incident highlights ongoing contention over Shabbat commerce in Israel, where municipal and national laws often differ, and businesses are occasionally vandalized by extremists opposing their operating hours.