With a majority of 57 MKs from the coalition, including Shas
MKs, against 21 MKs from the opposition and 14 abstentions
from the Arab parties and Meretz, a joint no-confidence
motion sponsored by UTJ and HaIchud HaLeumi-NRP over the
large-scale Shabbos desecration by Israel Railways and the
Israel Nature and Parks Authority was defeated last
Monday.
The motion was presented by MK Rabbi Meir Porush (UTJ), who
said that unfortunately Shabbos desecration has become a norm
in the State of Israel, noting that Israel Railways operates
contractors who employ Jews executing tasks specifically
scheduled for Shabbos although the Association of
Infrastructures Contractors is trying to put a stop to work
on Shabbos. "Mr. Transportation Minister, how can the
director of Israel Railways remain indifferent to the
Association's request?" Rabbi Porush asked Minister Mofaz.
He went on to say that the desecration of Shabbos by Israel
Railways is not an isolated incident. The Nature and National
Parks Authority also planned large-scale Shabbos desecration
to carry out a survey of water birds and only a letter signed
by seven MKs was able to stop it. But the question remains as
to why the bird count was planned for Shabbos in the first
place. In a third incident, US Secretary of State Condoleeza
Rice arrived in Israel on Shabbos Day, which led to Shabbos
desecration by state workers, reporters and cameramen,
security personnel, and many more.
"Who would have ever imagined in the State of Israel, of all
places, we would have to battle over Shabbos observance?"
said Rabbi Porush. "Why in the State of Israel, of all
places, should all those Jews who cherish the Shabbos be
bitterly disappointed? Why has the Jewish conscience not
risen up against those among us who are responsible for the
acts of Shabbos desecration, based on a national feeling
calling for the preservation of our forefathers' legacy and
the dearest gift given to us by Borei Olam?"
Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, who responded in the
name of the government, said, "Nobody among us wants to
desecrate Shabbos. We are evaluating the activity being done
now — though it is a lifesaving activity — and
the possible alternatives, so that in future we can avoid the
unusual circumstances that were in the past. In the absence
of any other possibility, and only in a few cases, will non-
Jewish workers be employed in order to avoid Shabbos
desecration while saving lives in Israel. We have absolutely
no intention of knowingly doing any activity involving
Shabbos desecration when there is an alternative, now and in
the future. We will make a supreme effort to insure a
solution is found even in these exceptional cases."
Minister Eli Yishai also laid forth his agreement with the
Transportation Minister and the Director of Israel Railways
according to which only vital work would be performed on
Shabbos and only by non-Jewish workers, and asked the
chareidi MKs who knew of any location where work was
performed to notify him and he would dispatch ministry
inspectors to look into the matter.
