Minister Y. Katz.
Photo: Sasson Tiram
End to Katz's train troubles?
Even though the heads of the ultra-Orthodox parties will meet PM Netanyahu tomorrow, Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz doesn't seem worried, insisting that the Shabbat renovations at the HaShalom train station were agreed to by the ultra-Orthodox leaders.
The issue of work conducted on the Israeli train system during Shabbat
still hasn't gone off the agenda. Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party representatives are expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday as the ultra-Orthodox continue to voice their protest over the work on the train system on Shabbat.
However, despite ultra-Orthodox protests, Shas and United Torah Judaism aren't expected to create a crisis within the coalition government over the issue.
The representatives also aren't expected to demand that the prime minister fire Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, as they previously said they might.
Renovations at HaShalom train station, Saturday. (Photo: Israel Railways)
"We're going after Katz's head, but at the moment, we won't request that he be removed from his position," the ultra-Orthodox factions said.
Officials with Israel Railways claimed Sunday that the full list of projects to be carried out was agreed upon on Thursday at midnight, and was agreed upon between head of the prime minister's office Yoav Horowitz, the ultra-Orthodox leaders, and the CEO of Israel Railways.
A list of 16 projects which were to be conducted on Shabbat was sent to the ultra-Orthodox leaders. According to Israel Railways officials, Horowitz contacted the office at 1:45am and said that 12 of the projects had been approved, including four which didn't necessarily have to be done on Shabbat. According to the Israel Railways officials, Horowitz said, "This was agreed to between all parties."
In an interview with Channel 2 News, Katz claimed that the prime minister and his staff knew of the Shabbat projects and approved them in advance. "He approved, and his people approved, 12 of these 16 projects in particular."
The prime minister's associates estimated Sunday that the ultra-Orthodox party leaders won't escalate the situation despite it all. "This is not expected to develop into a coalition crisis," they said.
