'Enforce Pesach law'
Sharon instructs Interior Minister to enforce law banning bread displays during holiday
JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has instructed Interior Minister Ophir Pines-Paz Monday to enforce the chametz (leavened bread) law, which forbids bread displays during Pesach (Passover.)
"A law is a law and you must make every effort to enforce it," Sharon told Pines-Paz during a meeting between the two.
Prior to the meeting, Pines-Paz had officially announced his intention to refrain from enforcing the law this year, prompting ultra-orthodox Knesset members to submit a no-confidence motion against the government.
Sharon, who is looking to eliminate political obstacles ahead of the Knesset budget vote, summoned Pines-Paz to his office in response to the latter's announcement and instructed him to enforce the law.
The ultra-Orthodox Shas party has subsequently decided to withdraw the no-confidence motion.
Religious coercion
The Jewish and democratic identity of Israel should not be dependent upon laws that lead to religious coercion, which only outrages and distances Israelis from religion, Pines-Paz said in response to Sharon's demand.
"I myself choose not to eat chametz during Pesach and I fast on Yom Kippur, but every citizen has the right to decide for himself," he said.
A closer examination makes it appear that Sharon's order is nothing more than political lip service, considering the difficulties inherent in enforcing the law.
Senior Interior Ministry officials said it was unrealistic for Sharon issue the instructions, as previous ultra-Orthodox ministers were also unable to enforce the law.
"We haven't seen Ariel Sharon try to enforce the law in the past," one official said, "and so it's possible... his words stemed from political necessity."
