As the heads of chareidi parties are already working to advance legislation to circumvent the recent High Court of Justice decision permitting supermarkets in Tel Aviv to open Shabbos, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who heads the Kulanu party has announced there will be no such law passed by the coalition.

Kahlon was interviewed by Kalkalist, and he used the forum to get his word out. He stated emphatically that he is a supporter of the religious status quo but will not cooperate with any effort to legislate a bill intended to bypass a High Court ruling.

He explained he condemns any effort to attack a court ruling and he stands firm backing the nation’s court.

The chareidi parties have indicated the opening of stores in Tel Aviv on Shabbos will lead to a coalition crisis. The head of the Shas Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael, HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita, recently instructed Shas leader Aryeh Deri to wage a war to protect kedushas Shabbos in Tel Aviv, indicating the matter is a red line which may compel Shas to break from the government coalition.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)