I'm not going to leave this place..ever.

If i bother you that much, then why don't you just leave Palestine?

If 75 % of the world has Sunday as a day of rest, then they should become like Israel to have the prosperity of Israel which is from YHWH who loathes the first day sabbath of the pagans whose sabbath should not be accomodated in Israel. Make it as difficult for the pagan sabbath goers in Israel as the rest of the world has made it for Jews and Messianics and Saturday Sabbath keepers in the rest of the world to honor their Shabbat. That should be a sweet savory offering to YHWH. To have some idea of how important the sundown Friday to sundown Saturday Shabbat is to YHWH, read the ELS Bible code matrix on US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who is Jewish and knew YHWH's Shabbat and worked on it when that was not needful. YHWH did not protect her in His rage that she broke the Shabbat, the matrix indicates. That resulted in her being shot, 12 others wounded and 6 dead in the attack in Tucson months ago. Jews are to be the example to the world for the correct Shabbat and Gentiles must become Jews in their hearts to become a part of the tree of life with Jewish roots and a grafted on Gentile branch. So don't give the pagan sabbath people an inch. Work on Sunday as an example to the world.

Just because I live my life how I want to live it. I don't disturb anyone by doing that - besides, our beloved Israel is, afterall, a secualr Jewish state and of course there is internal squabbilng - but it should be saved for bigger issues and not directed at people who work a 50 hour week under stress who want to enjoy Saturday to the fullest. Let's hug!

It's a rather smart financial move within a globalized economy. To be more insync with the rest of the world's business model allows Israel to advance our already growing economy, faster. Moreover, for businesses that work more on an international level, the ability to react to Friday happenings in the early morning trade are key since it sets the mood for the globalized indicies come Monday. By having to react to friday on sunday, the planning for the upcoming week is much harder here due to the fact that you have to account for an unknown element on friday where anything can happen. By switching a weekend day to sunday, it allows for these businesses to address much larger issues on the friday and plan accordingly for the week's agenda.

ok fine, but maybe the banks , post offices and government offices should stay open the whole day. I have never understood why these places of business close in the middle of the day. This practice is very inefficient for the economy especially since Israel is a modern country with air conditioners. No need for siesta.

This is one of the things that those making Aliyah have the hardest time getting used to- I can't see any negatives to this and only positive. So many of us hope this gets passed!

First fix your sinking boat, then take on more passengers. Otherwise you're just following another failed American policy wherein ultimately only criminals will get adequate food and shelter.

This is absolutely horrendous - banks and the stock exchange will be closed on Sunday, so if Friday is a half-day workwise then people will also not be able to make it to the bank then. Also, has Bibi not considered people might want to travel out of town to see their relatives in other towns and to make sure they get there before Shabbat. Also, I'm sure salaries will also go down, as the working hours per week would also be less! The whole idea of living in Israel is that the working week is Sunday to Thursday - it really adds to the feel of Shabbat - are supermarkets really going to be happy being open till last minute Friday afternoon so that people can get to the shops before Shabbat? ie Friday morning - I love Friday morning breakfasts and the whole idea of Fridays being off! This is a ridiculous proposal!!! I actually thought that as this idea came out about the time of Purim, that it was a Purim spiel! Obviously I was wrong on that one - everything that is special about Israel is now going to be eroded like the rest of Israel!!! Israel is Israel and should remain the flavour of Israel. Why not have half-day Thursday instead?

In addition to my last talkback, Sundays in England are not even Sundays anymore - and yes I am Jewish - the shops are allowed to open for 6 hours trading and 1/2 hour browsing before the shops open for payment. So, if in England nothing is sacred - not even December 25th!!! - then why make Israel less sacred???

To give the people living outside Israel an idea, these are the hours of my local post office: Sun, Thu: 8:00-18:00 Mon, Tue: 8:00 - 12:30, 15:30-18:00 Wed: 8:00 - 13:30 Fri: 8:00 to 12:00 Sat: Closed Confused yet? Now add the fact the hours of each post office, bank and gov't office is COMPLETELY different from one another!

It will be a boost for aliyah. The next move to boost aliyah (and prevent quitters) in a big way, prime-minister Netanyahu, is to appoint a creative team of experts in Hebrew, linguistics, ICT and graphic design, to come up with an adapted spelling system (a few extra vowel letters? no otiot sofiot?) that gives 100% pronunciation clarity. It will enable quicker automatic learning (via context and repetition) for born Israelis (you can't know all words and names already, impossible!) and for olim. It will cause a huge socio-economic boost! Especiallly since the Israeli economy is/should be based on excellent education and value added through collective brain power. Culturally it would be better to split up Hebrew into traditional Leshon Kodesh, to be studied more intensively at schools from a cultural/linguistic perspective and a truly modern language (Yisraelit makes sense!), with a HANDY SPELLING SYSTEM. Two languages for the jewish mind, Leshon Kodesh and a modern vehicle for information&communication. We are a practical people too, aren't we? Don't get me worried here.

His people rule over your people. If anyone is going to be leaving, its your people. You know why you will never have a state in the Holy Land? .. Because it was never yours to begin with. Your parents settled on STOLEN land. The land never belonged to the British, Turks, Arabs, Christians, Byzantines, Romans etc... The land belongs to the 12 tribes of Israel, and you are nothing but a land-grabbing thief.

for God's sake don't stick your nose where It doesn't belong.

The rest of the world have Saturday and Sunday open for shopping and entertainment. this is the way it should be, and is all over the world. bull-s-it ideas are for bul--s-it people

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

I must admit, though I don't exactly love you, I find your cynical talkbacks witty in a funny ...

Its about time Rabbi Ovadia Yosef kept his nose out of the running of the country. He and his party always obstruct whatever may be productive for the country. And its about time Bibi Netanyahu stopped kowtowing to him.

I never thought that this would happen, but I agree with Salma! She wrote "Trust me. Holidays make you lazy." Yes, here in France, whenever there is a gap between our copious holidays, workers go on strike. France, and much of Europe, is lazy and has no work ethic.

Given that one won't get half a day's productivity out of the Friday half-day, Israel would in effect be moving to a four-day workweek. (Seriously, who wants to face two rush-hour treks just for 3-4 hours of work?) It's already a shopping day. And for at least half a year it's long enough for tiyuls and outdoor games.

IDIOT if ever I came across one!

I want all public transportation to run all week long like a normal country !! Including saturdays !!

I feel that it is important to have a Sunday for the following reasons: Having a Sunday would help Shmirat Shabbat in Israel tremendously. Many people (especially traditional Sephardim) would keep Shabbat if they had a Sunday to go to a ball game, have a bar-be-que, visit family and go shopping. Friday does not do this. Erev Shabbat is a tense day for most of us (especially Dati )when we are busy preparing for Shabbat. It is not a day for travelling, going to a ball game or general shopping. Also I as a mother would not want my little children home all Friday while I am busy preparing for Shabbat. Haredim would also benefit from a Sunday. If Jerusalemites visit family in Haifa for Shabbat, they would not have to rush back home on Motzei Shabbat. They would also have a more leisurely day to do shopping etc. Also people would know that Israel has a 4 1/2 day workweek and shops, banks and post offices would not close Tuesday afternoons etc. I work in a Shomer Shabbat office in New York. We work 4 1/2 days and are quite productive. This could happen in Israel as well.

Before the government run ahead with this program they need to consult with working women. As a mom of 3 already working 9 hr days + 1.5 hrs travel each day, adding extra time to the work day would be horrific. As it is there is very little time to spend with the kids. In addition there will be no time to shop and get ready for Shabbat (which already takes the enitre day on Friday) would be even more impossible. If this program were to go ahead some serious concessions should be made especially to working women! Also schools need to be prepared for long school days which will take a lot of time.

Please my light bearer Israel, do not follow the pagan worship day. You are special, appointed by G-d to do His will and lead the world to Him always. Your prosperity and security is from G-d so never compromise with the pagan. Govt must drop this case and keep Shabbath only as day of rest...I love you Israel, and am praying for you. With love from Tony

much more productive for the time-being.