Israel Railways continues being Mechalel Shabbos to carry out maintenance and other functions along its route as was reported by YWN-ISRAEL. The instances of chilul Shabbos by the railway have been on the rise of late.
MK Uri Maklev decries the situation, insisting the railway cannot do as it pleases without being accountable to anyone. Maklev sent an urgent letter to Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz in the name of the Yahadut Hatorah party as Katz recently announced numerous times he remains committed to protecting the religious status quo vis-à-vis his ministry.
Maklev reminds Katz that a few weeks ago he met with representatives of chareidi parties and it was during that meeting he gave his word regarding the Shabbos status quo to them. However, points out Maklev, this does not appear to be the case.
Maklev reminds Katz that maintaining the kedusha of Shabbos by state agencies is of paramount importance and a pillar of the coalition agreements signed with the chareidi parties.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
There is a real issue here of pikuach nefesh since certain maintenance functions cannot be performed when the trains are running (for the safety of the track workers)and any interruptions of service during weekdays would trigger cries of outrage from the same political hacks who complain about work done by arab workers on Shabbos.