Prior to dissolving the 21st Knesset, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reached agreement with coalition partners on a number of matters, which were revealed on Monday night’s KAN11 evening news.

According to the report released by Michael Shemesh, the agreements reached include a guarantee by PM Netanyahu that work being performed on Shabbos will not be authorized without approval by a representative of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

A paragraph cites the importance of Shabbos, and as such, the minister responsible for approving Shabbos work permits will refrain from doing so if s/he has not received approval from a Rabbinate representative.

In the event of a major project, like the light rail system under construction in Tel Aviv, the matter will be discussed in the planning stage, and if work is not approved on Shabbos, then other days will be selected for without the approval of the Chief Rabbinate, no work will be authorized on Shabbos.

In response, MK Yair Lapid stated, “The coalition agreement revealed tonight is just a promo for the agreement that Bibi dreams about in his next government. If you voted Bibi, you got a state run by halacha”.

Yisrael Beitenu Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman added, “This is the tip of the iceberg of the agreements of surrender that Netanyahu signed with the chareidim, agreements that were supposed to smash the status quo in the State of Israel toward a halachic state. Slowly, we discover the sandal that would have cost the taxpayer billions of shekels”.

Likud: “For 13 years Prime Minister Netanyahu protected and will protect the status quo regarding religion and state – without any change. There was no compromise of the status quo regarding religion and state, and no change in the judicial system. Final agreements regarding Shabbos work are always in the hand of the Minister of Labor & Welfare. Even the report is erred, and it proves once again that the immunity law was not and will not be on the agenda”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)