Good Pharm Manager in Jaffa Bans Arabic Among Staff, Sparking Outrage and Resignation

A controversy erupted at the Good Pharm branch in Jaffa after the store manager prohibited employees from speaking Arabic during their shifts. The manager warned staff that speaking Arabic could trigger trauma for customers and insisted that Hebrew be spoken exclusively, threatening sanctions for violations. She justified the ban by stating that Hebrew is the primary language of the country and emphasized the need to respect all customers, given the traumas they might have experienced.

Following the directive, an employee resigned, describing the incident as humiliating and racist. She expressed that the policy felt like an attempt to erase her identity and stated that everyone should be able to speak their language without fear. The message was shared in a WhatsApp group for the store’s employees, intensifying the backlash within the Arab community and among workers.

Itamar Avnery, a Knesset candidate and Tel Aviv-Yafo city council member, condemned the manager’s order as blatant racism and a severe violation of employment equality laws. He criticized the trauma justification as a weak excuse, highlighting the significant Arab presence among both customers and employees in Jaffa.

Good Pharm responded by affirming its commitment to equality and serving diverse populations. The company acknowledged that if the manager erred, the matter would be addressed through proper channels. The incident has sparked public debate about language rights and discrimination in workplaces serving mixed communities in Israel.