Public transportation on Shabbat is part of broader vision, says Michaeli
Haredi MKs condemn proposal, describe it as a ‘desecration’ of the holy day of rest
Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli, the Labor Party leader, has set out to achieve several goals in her new position, such as providing public transportation on Shabbat in cities that want it.
Her plans were immediately condemned by haredi (ultra-Orthodox) politicians, who denounced her for intending to harm the Jewish character of the state.
Almost all municipal authorities are prohibited from operating public transportation on Shabbat, although there are some exceptions, such as Haifa, where services were operating before the establishment of the state.
Among Michaeli’s various programs is a proposal to allow local municipal authorities to decide whether they want to operate public transportation services. This would enable them to decide on this sensitive issue in accordance with the wishes of their residents.
Michaeli’s plans would require the approval of the cabinet, a step that would likely prove very difficult, given Yamina’s stated commitment to preserving the status quo on religion-and-state issues, unless otherwise stated in its coalition agreement with Yesh Atid, the N12 news site reported.
The coalition agreement between Yamina and Yesh Atid does not include any discussion of initiatives to advance public transportation on Shabbat.
Secular Israelis have long sought public transportation options on Shabbat. Activists and politicians have argued that lack of such services severely limit leisure options for those without private vehicles and prevent families with relatives in different parts of the country to get together at the weekend.
Religious-Zionist and haredi politicians have countered that public transportation on Shabbat would detract from the spiritual and holy nature of the day and that this should be avoided.
“The steps to destroy the Jewish character of the state and to harm the tradition of the Jewish people have got underway, with a shameful declaration by the transportation minister to have public transportation on Shabbat and holidays,” senior United Torah Judaism MK Ya’acov Litzman said. “Mr. [Naftali] Bennett, who told us about Yamina’s veto over religion-and-state affairs, is allowing the status quo to be harmed and the desecration of the national day of rest. What a disgrace.”
Labor’s coalition agreement with Yesh Atid states specifically that the two parties will work toward advancing public transportation on Shabbat, although no timetable was set, a spokeswoman for Michaeli said.
Although such initiatives are part of Michaeli’s broader vision, there are no concrete steps at present to advance such projects, she added.