[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

The Shabbos Bill sponsored by MK (Likud) Eli Zohar empowers the cabinet to enforce the closure of businesses in Tel Aviv, usurping that authority from the Interior Ministry, which has not played an active role in enforcing the Shabbos law.

Earlier this week, Zohar agreed to a request from PM Netanyahu to delay the plenum vote on the bill.

In Knesset, a stormy debate was held surrounding the controversial bill but as one can hear in the video, Zohar remains steadfast in preserving Shabbos as Israel’s official ‘day of rest’, rejecting the efforts by those who would like to see R”L Shabbos turn into a day of relaxing and shopping as well as providing public transportation in non-frum area to accommodate residents wishing to avail themselves of the service.

Interestingly, the bill may pass even without Kulanu’s support as the Arab Members of Knesset, who number thirteen, may back the bill. They are now deliberating the merits of supporting the bill for on the one hand, they do not want to hand the coalition a victory but on the other hand, for as long as stores are closed inside Israel, Arab areas do a hefty business as the Israelis travel to those areas to shop and dine out on Shabbos and Yomtov.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)