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Coalition Chairman MK (Likud) David Amsellem expressed objections to the Shabbos (Makolet) Law just hours before its scheduled vote. Shas MK Yitzchak Cohen fired back, “We are no open to negotiations at this time”.

Amsellem decided to challenge what he believes are issues with the bill just hours before it is supposed to be voted on and passed into law in Knesset. While there are many non-chareidi lawmakers who are less than pleased with the law, the chareidim are insisting the coalition must back it as per coalition agreements to preserve the Shabbos status quo. This is the bill that will empower the Ministry of the Interior, controlled presently by Shas, to override the decision of local government and force the closure of stores on Shabbos.

The law is not retroactive to include Tel Aviv, which has already been given a green light for stores to open on Shabbos by the High Court of Justice.

For one thing, Amsellem wants to make certain the law as it is written does not include gas station convenience shops, which the chareidim feel it does.

Efforts continue in among the chareidim to make certain coalition members are present for the vote to ensure a majority, and not to attend the levaya of Mrs. Yaffa Glick, the wife of Likud MK Yehuda Glick. They would be able to attend the levaya if the opposition would make allowance for this, as has been the norm in the past. That is to say, for each coalition member attending the levaya, an opposition member would not vote against it to keep the playing field fair. However, at the time of this report, the opposition is unwilling to play ball.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein even commented on this, and while he acknowledges “it is their right”, he is critical of the fact that this accepted practice in Knesset is not being honored and in this case, using the levaya of an MK is unacceptable, “For when it comes to mourning a loved one, there is no coalition or opposition” Edelstein explained.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)