[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Following the Israel Railways’ strike and coalition turmoil surrounding the railway’s chilul Shabbos, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the media at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, 2 Rosh Chodesh Elul, that Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz is too blame. While he was not mentioned by name, it was clear to all that Mr. Netanyahu has made Katz the coalition scapegoat, telling the chareidim it was Katz’s approval for the railways’ Shabbos construction that led to the crisis with the chareidi parties.

PM Netanyahu stated, “Since Friday, we have been dealing with reducing the congestion that was created last night and today due to the Israel Railways’ work projects. I want to thank you, Mr. Defense Minister, I spoke with you and you responded immediately. I instructed the defense establishment to assist in transportation for soldiers. The Transportation Ministry is operating a reinforced network of buses in order to ease things for passengers.

“This crisis is completely unnecessary. There was no need to reach this situation. There has been a status quo in the State of Israel for many years; we honor it. When work needs to be done on Shabbat – it is done, as it was last Shabbat on the Ayalon highway. When it does not need to be done on Shabbat – it is not done. This has been our guiding principle; this is the principle that will continue to guide us.

“Over the past seven years the Government has invested almost NIS 30 billion in a massive expansion of highways, railways, and – of course – interchanges and tunnels. We succeeded in doing this without unnecessary crises. When nobody wants a crisis, it is possible to avoid it. On this matter I expect full cooperation by all ministers. Ministers are appointed in order to avoid crises and solve problems, not create them”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)