It is now clear to all that Israel Railways’ Chilul Shabbos will continue this Shabbos as per Labor Minister Chaim Katz. Katz’s ministry is responsible for issuing the permits that allow the railway to carry out the work on Shabbos legally. Katz told the media the railways’ work is safety related and he plans to permit it on scheduled despite objections from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, whose decision was overturned in a High Court of Justice ruling.

The court explained that when PM Netanyahu ordered a halt to the Shabbos work by the railway, he exceeded the authority and only Katz, in his capacity as Labor Minister, has the authority to cancel the Shabbos work permits.

The interview accompanied by the timing of the High Court ruling has Yahadut Hatorah weighing its options as talk of breaking from the coalition is once again audible, being cited as a viable option. Health Minister Yaakov Litzman announced that the Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael will be convening in the coming days to discuss the ongoing Chilul Shabbos and the Torah Council will decide if leaving the coalition is necessary. Litzman stated that while the party prefers to remain in the coalition, he and his colleagues are not afraid of leaving if compelled to do so.

Degel Hatorah faction leader MK Moshe Gafne announced that the litvish and chassidish factions of Yahadut Hatorah are working together and directing efforts at halting the chilul Shabbos.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)