On Sunday, the government authorized the reopening of hardware stores, bookstores, laundries, optical stores, and even furniture and sewing workshops. The famous Swedish furniture brand IKEA reopened three stores in Israel on Wednesday, causing long queues and angering other companies still closed due to the government measures to stem the COVID-19 pandemic.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Education Minister Rafi Peretz expressed dissatisfaction to the director general of the Ministry of Health, Moshe Bar Siman Tov, saying that "IKEA should not be opened while schools remain closed," according to Israeli media.
Meanwhile, the government was scheduled to meet on Thursday to ease some restrictions on the opening of certain businesses that have been damaged since the start of the COVID-19 restrictions.
Outrage across Israel government decision to let IKEA open but keep hundreds of small, independent stores and salons shuttered. @i24NEWS_EN pic.twitter.com/wix5XpbpOf
— Jeff Smith (@JeffSmithi24) April 23, 2020
According to Channel 12, hairdressers, beauticians, ready-to-wear stores and some other stores may be next on the list to restart operations.
This article was originally published by i24NEWS.
