A large majority of the Knesset plenum passed a law setting
fixed dates for the beginning and end of daylight savings
time. This year we will change the clocks at 2:00 am on
Thursday night ("Spring forward"), between 20 and 21 Adar II
(31 March).
According to the new law, initiated by MKs David Azoulai
(Shas) and Eli Aflalo (Likud), every year daylight savings
time will begin on the last Friday of March and will end on
Motzei Shabbos Shuvoh. These dates will not require the
approval of the Interior Minister or the Knesset Interior
Committee. Based on calculations, daylight savings time will
last between 150 and 190 days.
The law won the support of all Knesset parties except for
Shinui, which stood alone in its opposition. Approval for the
legislation was reached in a meeting MKs Rabbi Moshe Gafni
and David Azoulai held with Interior Minister Ofir Pines and
MK Chaim Oron of Meretz. Shinui MKs accused Oron and Pines of
surrendering to the chareidim.
During the course of second- and third-reading discussions MK
Rabbi Gafni lodged harsh criticism against the Shinui MKs,
saying agreements cannot be reached with them on any issue
because they turn every matter into a dispute between the
religious and the secular, even matters wholly unrelated to
religion such as daylight savings time.
Rabbi Gafni noted that in Interior Committee meetings all
officials, including representatives of the Ministries of the
Interior and Infrastructures, made clear the law has no
monetary repercussions, yet "Shinui is searching high and low
for matters of dispute so that you can say Ofir Pines
capitulated and Chaim Oron capitulated, but you alone are the
big bullies, the big heroes. You alone don't surrender."
Turning to the Shinui MKs Rabbi Gafni added, "You foment
controversy for no reason. You are adamant for no reason,
over a few days over the course of 20 years. The Israeli
public is fed up with the false controversies you create . .
. to receive votes. The public won't vote for you. You are
quarrelsome people, troublemakers who foment dispute over
nothing."
Minister Pines also criticized Shinui, saying that they voted
in favor of the initiative in the first reading because of a
compromise worked out by MKs Azoulai and Oron, but now they
oppose the initiative because of 12 days out of 20 years.
Twelve days does not justify refusing to back a logical
compromise, said Pines.
He attacked Shinui for compromising with Shas on the daylight
savings time issue in the past but suddenly finding it
unacceptable when Meretz was willing to compromise as well.
"This is a kind of hypocrisy, a kind of sleight of hand,"
said Pines. "This is unnecessary querulousness and is
uncalled for. I think the moment the Knesset arrives at such
a broad agreement from end to end it should be honored."
