While many businesses in Israel utilize English exclusively in their advertising and image development – in order to give themselves a “worldly” or “international” aura – they may not have that option much longer. In its first reading last week, a law proposed by MK Effie Eitam (NU-NRP) requiring all businesses in Israel to have a public display sign with the name of the business in Hebrew letters, was approved in an 11-1 vote on its first reading.
Eitam proposed the bill in order to “encourage Israeli society to keep its unique use of Hebrew language, and not fall victim to the creeping globalization of society, represented by the increasing use of English in commerce. The use of strictly foreign characters on storefronts and ads is offensive to many members of the public,” he said. Eitam said he based his bill on a similar law already in use in Tel Aviv, which requires the name of a business displayed on a sign to be spelled out in Hebrew letters – even if the word is from a foreign language.
According to the proposal, any business that does not follow the guidelines for signs risks having its license to operate revoked.
Eitam proposed the bill in order to “encourage Israeli society to keep its unique use of Hebrew language, and not fall victim to the creeping globalization of society, represented by the increasing use of English in commerce. The use of strictly foreign characters on storefronts and ads is offensive to many members of the public,” he said. Eitam said he based his bill on a similar law already in use in Tel Aviv, which requires the name of a business displayed on a sign to be spelled out in Hebrew letters – even if the word is from a foreign language.
According to the proposal, any business that does not follow the guidelines for signs risks having its license to operate revoked.