Minister Eli Yishai said he would authorize a project to renovate the runways at Ben Gurion Airport on the condition that construction over Shabbos would be conducted by non-Jews. He also decided that Jews would only be allowed to hold managerial positions in the project.

The Israel Aviation Authority began renovating the runways in July, and is planning to have the works completed by the end of November.

During this time, the airport would have to shut down on six consecutive weekends, to allow construction to be carried out on the runways.

The minister’s aides also stated that his decision was backed by a halachic ruling of Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, and approved by Chacham Ovadia Yosef Shlita.

(Source: Ynet)