Jerusalem Councilman Aryeh King, a member of the dati leumi community, was a guest co-host on Kol Chai Radio on Thursday, 16 Adar-I with Mordechai Lavi.

King was asked to explain the defeat in the Jerusalem City Council regarding the future operation of the Mitcham HaTachana (First Station) on Shabbos. Located at the old train station in the capital, the Mitcham has become a popular entertainment location, offering attractions and an array of eateries and events.

King referrs to the fact that Shas Councilman Michaeli absented himself from the vote. he explains that the religious parties in the Jerusalem coalition compromise 16 of the 31 seats and therefore, there is no excuse for not passing a vote like this one, which would have prohibited the site from operating on Shabbos in the future. He adds the religious parties signed an agreement that “we would go through fire and water to protect kedushas Shabbos in Yerushalayim” but this did not occur in the vote.

King came under fire when he said “I came into politics to take charge and not just to influence and I am not embarrassed to say this regarding fighting for kedushas Shabbos”. He was quick to add his heart goes out to Michaeli, who was instructed to leave before the vote, explaining the order came from higher up in Shas and it was not his personal decision, signaling Shas has a hidden agenda and voting here to preserve Shabbos seems to interfere with that agenda.

King concluded that the actions of the religious councilmen in this case is yet another Chilul Hashem, and this is the worst result of the abysmal vote that gives city approval to the entertainment center operating on Shabbos.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)