Transportation Minister Miri Regev on Wednesday met with the CEO of Israel Railways and chairman of the board along with professionals from the Transportation Ministry and Israel Railways following the demand of UTJ chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf that railway works be halted on Shabbos.

During the meeting, the railway officials presented a plan to reduce railway works on Shabbos in accordance with the principles of maintaining the religious status quo as well as maintaining life-saving safety works.

According to the plan presented at the meeting, some of the work that was planned to be carried out on Shabbos will be spread over several nights during the week, enabling the reduction of work carried out on Shabbos to the bare minimum.

Regev stated that “the service to the public will not be harmed in any way.”

In response to Regev’s decision, Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman stated: “Netanyahu’s and Regev’s shameful decision is the continuation of surrender to the blackmail of the Chareidi parties at the expense of the general public.”

“Bibi promised not to touch the status quo, but as always, he lied this time too. We will demand a special discussion in the Knesset and will use all the means at our disposal to reverse the decision.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)