Health Minister Yaakov Litzman made his threat known, that if chilul Shabbos by Israel Railways continues, he will break from the coalition. Leaders of chareidi factions in Knesset over recent months have warned Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu repeatedly, explaining to him that if the chilul Shabbos to perform maintenance and repairs for Israel Railways continues, the coalition will break apart.

Despite Litzman’s most recent warning, and his expectation to hear work in the future will be conducted by non-Jews, Minister of Labor Chaim Katz announced in a radio interview that the work on Shabbos would continue.

Katz explained that Jews were not among the workers this past Shabbos in Dimona, telling Radio Moreshet there will be places where Jews will be working. Despite the threats from Litzman and the chareidi parties, Katz does not feel the government will fall over this.

Katz adds that there are Jews working on Shabbos in hospitals and Israel Television. He questions why they are not being threatened with closure. Katz feels reality is what it is and “If they want a railway, then maintenance work must be carried out”.

When asked by Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) to comment on Katz’s statement, Minister of Health Litzman stated, “If this is so, then I will not be Health Minister any longer”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)