Officials involved in the construction of the Yehudit Bridge, a pedestrian bridge on the Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv, have been insisting that despite the outcry from chareidi parties, there are no Jews working on Shabbos.

Kikar Shabbos News reported on Thursday, 12 Elul, that in fact, there are 326 Jews being mechalel Shabbos on this project. This is eleven times more than the permit allows for the project.

There have been protests against the Chilul Shabbos in recent days near the site of the bridge.

It now appears the work on Shabbos will be halted, as per a directive from Transportation Minister (Likud) Yisrael Katz, who insists the work can be carried out on weekdays or nights.

Katz remained firm despite protests from Tel Aviv City Hall, which insists the project can only be carried out on Shabbos in order to avoid creating a transportation catastrophe for the public if the busy highway is closed during the week.

A city official stated: “The government has lost its shame and as the public, we must not give in. I instructed the Legal Bureau to examine a petition to the High Court of Justice on the subject. As in the decision to close supermarkets on the Shabbos, this is part of an attempt to change the character of the state and the city.”

Officials in the Prime Minister’s Office slammed Katz’s decision to prevent closing lanes of the Ayalon Highway on Shabbos and permitting the bridge work to continue. Ynet quotes one official in the PMO saying, “It is unlikely they will close the Ayalon Highway during weekdays”.

The extreme left-wing Meretz party promises to challenge the minister’s decision in the High Court of Justice. However, at least for the time being, the mass Chilul Shabbos for the pedestrian has been halted by Katz.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)