The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor fined three bookstores that opened on Saturday to sell the final Harry Potter book launched in a mass event in Tel Aviv's old port earlier in the day.

To read a review of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by Haaretz book critic Michael Handelzalts click here.

Officials issued fines of NIS 5,000 to three Tzomet Hasepharim bookstores that opened especially on the Sabbath for the publication of the last installment in J.K. Rowling's hugely successful saga following the fate of the famous boy-magician.

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A spokesperson for the chain, Revital Mordi, said the majority of its bookstores were not fined and that some 7,500 books were sold.

At exactly 02:01 A.M. in the early hours of Saturday, hundreds of Harry Potter aficionados cheered the release of the novel at a special launch at Tel Aviv's old port.

People of all ages, some dressed in costumes of characters featured in the series, attended the event held by the Steimatzky bookstore chain.

The event began at midnight, and featured a countdown until the English-language version of the book went on sale at special booths set up by the chain.

Video screens broadcasted an interview with Harry Potter's creator, J.K. Rowling, which was recorded shortly before the launch in the grand Victorian surroundings of London's Natural History Museum. Rowling discussed the book's plot and her motivation in writing it.

Rowling also gave a midnight reading to 500 competition-winning children, and autographed copies of the book.

The Hebrew translation of the boy wizard and his friends' final adventure won't go on sale until December, but that hasn't stopped the eager Israeli fans.

Accompanied by his parents to the early morning launch, Potter fan Nadav Ya'akob, 11, of Rosh Ha'ain said he could not wait until the hebrew-translation of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" comes out

According to Tzomet Hasepharim, some 4,000 Israelis had already ordered the English edition before it was launched.

Tzomet Hasepharim stores are open special hours for the book launch, with the Ga'sh store opening at 2:00 A.M., and the additional stores opening for business Saturday morning.

The celebrations and special hours came despite a threat by Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) to issue indictments and impose fines on stores that violate the Hours of Work and Rest Law by selling the book on Shabbat.