According to the Interior Ministry, the Knesset is expected to debate the Daylight Saving Time bill in the upcoming months.
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Back in June, Interior Minister Eli Yishai announced his decision to implement the recommendation of a professional committee to extend Daylight Saving Time, which will now begin at the end of March and end on October 1.
The new ruling extends the period of DST to 193 days, from the current 170-191 days.
Yishai told a press conference that a poll conducted by the committee assigned to research the issue found that 50% of Israel's citizens wanted to extend Daylight Savings Time, while 46% wanted to keep it as is or shorten it.
However, not everyone is pleased about the extra hour of sleep: "I'm disappointed about the Standard Time," said 26-year-old Shay from Tel Aviv. "The sun sets too early and there are fewer hours of daylight. It endangers drivers and pedestrians, because in the day time you can see them better. It's also depressing to make arrangements after work when it's dark outside.
"It doesn't make sense. Israel's Standard Time should begin on the same day as it does in Europe; otherwise leave the Daylight Saving Time as it is for the entire year."
Omri Efraim contributed to the report
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