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Israeli politicians use supermarket law battle to shop for votes

Residents of the embattled city of Ashdod are fed up with the political fight between Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri over forced store closures during the Sabbath.
A man pushes a shopping cart outside Shufersal, Israel's largest supermarket chain, in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Mishor Adumim near Jerusalem May 5, 2013. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File Photo  - S1BEUFEYLVAB
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Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri clashed on Twitter over the supermarket law a month ago. The argument over the law, which forbids shops from operating on the Sabbath and holidays, was quite polite. The two called each other “my friend.”

The two have indeed been friends for many years. They have cooperated on many political fights, such as the running of a joint candidate (Moshe Leon) to head the Jerusalem municipality more than four years ago, and have served together in several coalitions. On Jan. 20, this friendship ended. 

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