Following the High Court ruling stating Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu overstepped his authority regarding the Israel Railways’ chilul Shabbos,  Health Minister Yaakov Litzman stated the Moetzas Gedolei Hatorah of Agudas Yisrael will convene in the coming days to discuss the matter, telling the press “We have no problem breaking from the coalition over chilul Shabbos”.

Speaking with Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), Litzman explained the Torah Council will be discussing the chilul Shabbos, and this will occur in the coming days and it will be the admorim who will decide to remain or to topple the coalition.

“I am not afraid to return the cabinet vehicle for it is clear to all we have no problem leaving over the chilul Shabbos while we do not wish to. PM Netanyahu has placed the responsibility on Katz and the High Court in its ruling also stated the decision must be made by Katz, the minister responsible for approving the Shabbos work”. He added “The High Court was not acting L’Shem Shomayim but to stick it to the chareidim”.

Litzman explained he knows a thing or two about the religious status quo and coalition agreements and the later guarantees the coalition would maintain the former, but this is not being done since there is no justification for the work being carried out by the railway on Shabbos for it has been determined the work is not a matter of pikuach nefesh.

Litzman added that the committee responsible for approving Shabbos work permits in the Labor Ministry addressed the railways’ work and during that meeting they shouted at the railway representative “You told us a story! You lied” after it became clear that 17 jobs were not required but only 3. When he asked to probe the three he learned that they too are not a matter of pikuach nefesh.

From Litzman’s perspective, “today it is clear to all and there is no pikuach nefesh and the work can be carried out on Thursday night and/or motzei Shabbos”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)