Religious-secular conflict in Israel reignites over work on Saturday

The conflict between secular Jews and ultra-Orthodox Haredim in Israel has reignited after Netivei Ayalon Ltd, which manages the network of main roads in the east of Tel Aviv, announced their closure for six consecutive Saturdays to allow construction work on Yehudit Bridge. Politicians and Haredim media protested against such work taking place on the Sabbath. The Haredim insist on upholding the Jewish teaching that the Sabbath is a day of rest.

The ultra-Orthodox group have threatened to cause a crisis within the coalition government if the construction firm is allowed to have workers on the bridge on Saturdays. This prompted Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz to call the company’s closure announcement as “outrageous and needless”. He also announced that work on the bridge shall be frozen. “The chosen method to implement the construction works is also problematic and would severely affect everyone at the weekends,” the minister added.

Katz has told Netivei Ayalon to draft an alternative plan for overnight working. “That is what happens elsewhere in Israel and around the world,” he insisted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was counting on Katz to find a day other than Saturday to build the bridge.

According to the construction company, though, the order to build at night simply isn’t feasible. Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai has objected to Katz’s decision and threatened to go to the Supreme Court against the construction freeze.

Haredim based their demand for the state to uphold the Sabbath and shut down all commercial activities on Saturdays upon a letter sent by David Ben-Gurion in 1947 before the establishment of Israel. It was addressed to the ultra-Orthodox leadership in Agudat Yisrael party, which is currently represented by Deputy Minister Jacob Leitman. Ben-Gurion vowed that four issues would be maintained in the new state: food and beverages would be kosher (lawful) according to Jewish law, as would personal status such as marriage and divorce, education and the sanctity of the Sabbath. These understandings have formed the official status quo in Israel to this day.

However, reports published by Israeli media on Friday show a decline in adherence to Sabbath restrictions. For example, 98 per cent of cinemas, 65 per cent of museums and 20 per cent of commercial complexes now open on Saturdays. A report by Israel 10 TV revealed that more than 620,000 people, around 17 per cent of the Israeli workforce, work on Saturdays, although they are theoretically prohibited from doing so under the Hours of Work and Rest Law. At the moment, 65 per cent of those Israelis who work on the Sabbath are Jews.

According to figures released by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, 92,000 workers in Israel do not have a weekly rest day, with 42 per cent of those working on Saturdays doing so in hospitality and food services, with 30 per cent in commerce. The remainder work in the health sector and agriculture.