Back in February it was reported that the Rabbanut had been authorized to issue criminal indictments against food establishments that declare themselves as kosher without proper authorization for the Rabbanut.

Ynet is reporting today that for the first time ever, the Rabbanut notably just issued such a criminal indictment.

The Rabbanut brought charges against a restaurant owner from Haifa who declared his restaurant kosher without certification from the Rabbanut.

The owner is claiming that he was not declaring the restaurant kosher, just letting the customers know that the ingredients used in the restaurant are all kosher and certified by the Rabbanut. The owner also claims that the Rabbanut is guilty of selective punishment, as he has supervision from a private organization (without using the word kosher), as do other restaurants yet only he has been issued the indictment for kashrut fraud - proof is that he is the first one to receive such an indictment.

Without a picture of the sign the owner posted on his restaurant window regarding the kashrut it is difficult to verify the claims in either direction, but the article says that he posted to signs - one that says all the products are kosher (different than saying the restaurant is kosher) and the second saying the establishment is under the supervision of Igud  HaRabbanim bYisrael. Inside the restaurant was the certificate of supervision from the Iggud Harabanim bYisrael - Kehilot Hacharedim and it specifically says that there is no certification by the Rabbanut.

Basically the owner is claiming no fraud. He is only using the word "kosher" regarding products which are certified by the Rabbanut, and he specifically says that the restaurant is not supervised by the Rabbanut. So no fraud.

I am not sure the claim of selective enforcement is overly strong. they only recently received the authorization for this level of enforcement, and somebody is going to be the first. With the Coronavirus shutting down restaurants for a long period between March and the end of May, it makes sense that they are only now getting the opportunity to implement this new level of enforcement. Just because you are the first victim doesn't make it selective. That might depend on if the Rabbanut continues to take such steps against others.

The court is hearing the case and will decide on the matter.