Yahadut Hatorah has demanded that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu remove Transportation Minister (Likud) Yisrael Katz from his post due to continues Shabbos chilul Shabbos by Israel Railways. The state-run rail serve is using Shabbos for renovations and maintenance to avoid major shutdowns and delays during the week. Following another consecutive week of chilul Shabbos, MK Moshe Gafne has called on the Prime Minister to remove Katz for failing to maintain his promise to uphold the Shabbos status quo.

Coalition Chairman Chaim Bitan of Likud responded angrily that the chareidim will not determine who in the Likud is a minister and who is not.

While sources in Katz’s office insist PM Netanyahu personally gave the okay to continue the Israel Railways chilul Shabbos, some believe a coalition crisis with the chareidi parties may result. However, as reported earlier, Shas is not on board with Yahadut Hatorah regarding the latter’s demand to remove Katz from the cabinet post.

In a related matter, dati leumi websites are reporting that ironically, when Rami Sadan back in June 2016 reportedly insulted Aryeh Deri and Sephardi Jews, Shas threatened to turn to the High Court of Justice http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/428808/shas-tenacious-in-demand-to-oust-rami-sadan-threatening-to-turn-to-the-high-court.html and bring down the government. In this case, dealing with public chilul Shabbos, Shas signals it is far less agitated and opposes Yahadut Hatorah’s demands to oust Yisrael Katz.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)