Train construction work
Photo: Matan Turkiya
Haredi parties push to stop train construction work during High Holy Days
Shas and United Torah Judaism put pressure to stop work at the Israel Railways on Shabbat and the upcoming holidays, leading labor and welfare minister to instruct his ministry officials to examine the issue.
Ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism will hold a conference Thursday to present a united front against construction work at the Israel Railways on Shabbat and during the upcoming High Holy Days.
Earlier this week, representatives of the two parties met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stress their position on the matter.
Following intervention by the Prime Minister's Office, among other things, Labor and Welfare Minister Haim Katz announced the matter will be examined.
Train works in Tel Aviv (Photo: Itay Blumenthal)
Officials in Katz's office estimated works will probably not take place during Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and possibly Sukkot as well.
"In the spirit of the month of Elul, the month of mercy and forgiveness, Labor and Welfare Minister Haim Katz instructed ministry officials to examine the permits to employing workers at the Israel Railways on their weekly day of rest, and to pay heed to public sensitivities during the High Holy Days and the importance of the Days of Repentance to the Jewish people," a statement from the Labor and Welfare Ministry said.
"The labor and welfare minister is considering instructing ministry officials to examine the requests related to the Israel Railways as early as possible to avoid pressures that could be created due to a tight schedule," the statement went on to say.
The head of the Shas faction in the Knesset, MK Yoav Ben-Tzur, released a statement saying the train work for the coming month will be stopped while the committee that gives work permits on Saturday, the Jewish day of rest, examines the matter.
"These important achievements are just part of the way to establishing the status of the Shabbat as is fitting for a Jewish state," Ben-Zur said.
