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New crisis hits ruling coalition over Israeli rail repairs

August 29, 2016 at 12:00 pm

A new crisis has hit Israel’s coalition government led by Benjamin Netanyahu after it allowed repairs to be made to the railway in Tel Aviv on Saturdays, the local media has reported. Right-wing religious Jewish parties within the coalition protested at work taking place on the Sabbath. The day, they insist, is a “gift from God” to the Jews.

“The Sabbath day is a wonderful gift received in the Ten Commandments and we have given it to all of humanity,” Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau told Ynet News on Sunday. The religious parties have asked for a meeting with Netanyahu. One of the top agenda items would be the sacking of Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, it is claimed.

According to Israeli television, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (the leader of the Shas Party), Health Minister Yaakov Litzman (Yehdot Hatorah Party) and Moshe Gafni MK (Member of the Knesset – parliament) believe that working on Saturday is a breach of a pledge made by Katz. They believe that the minister of transport “deceived” them when he said that repair work would only take place on Saturdays “when necessary”.

“It was decided that only work considered as life-saving will be done on the Sabbath,” added Rabbi Lau. “Any other work will be postponed.”