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JERUSALEM — The tug-of-war between secular and religious Israelis is raging anew, this time over a new shopping mall near Tel Aviv and an art gallery in northern Israel.

Africa-Israel, one of Israel's largest developers, has caused a stir with its decision to close a new mall on the Sabbath. The mall is being built in Ramat Aviv, north of Tel Aviv.

Observers have linked the decision to the recent purchase of Africa-Israel by Lev Levayev, an observant Jew.

The decision took a number of businesses planning to take space in the new mall by surprise. Israel Theaters, which plans to operate a movie theater, demanded that it be compensated by the developer for the projected lost weekend incomes. Africa-Israel said there was no contract with the theater operator about opening on the Sabbath.

The Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported last week that Africa-Israel had signed a contract with the McDonald's restaurant chain and had been paid in advance for three months rent.

A six-page addendum, attached to the standard contract, included a clause giving the landlord the authority to determine business hours on Jewish holidays and the Sabbath.

Meanwhile, Amos and Alice Meroz have been opening an art gallery in Zichron Ya'acov on the Sabbath, provoking the anger of a local ultrareligious official.

The official responded to what he views as a desecration of the Sabbath by parking a hearse in front of the gallery. The gallery owners said this failed to dissuade shoppers.

These disputes come amid stepped-up efforts by the Social Affairs and Labor Ministry, now under the control of the ultrareligious Shas Party, to enforce legislation prohibiting Jewish businesses from operating on the Sabbath.