The heads of chareidi factions in Knesset; Aryeh Deri, Yaakov Litzman and Moshe Gafne, met on Monday evening 12 Tammuz with Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to discuss Shabbos. At the start of the meeting, Mandelblit requested they do not leak the contents of the meeting to the media.

At the end of the meeting it was decided to request a 45-day extension for the state to respond to the High Court of Justice regarding a petition to permit stores to open on Shabbos in Tel Aviv. There was discussion as to who exactly has the legal authority to change or eliminate municipal law compelling the closure of businesses on Shabbos.

Needless to say the chareidi elected officials expressed growing concerns over increasing chilul Shabbos in many cities around Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)