During a meeting held several weeks ago on the issue of
operating public transportation on Shabbos, the Knesset
Finance Committee determined public transportation companies
do not have work permits for Shabbos and where they operate
they do so in violation of the law. Representatives from the
Ministry of Trade and Industry present at the meeting
concurred.
Now that several weeks have gone by, MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni
contacted the Ministry of Trade and Industry, demanding to
know what actions have been taken to prevent open Shabbos
desecration by public transportation operators, which is
against the law.
It was also found that the Transportation Ministry's
instructions to bus companies to operate on Shabbos is a
violation of the law as well, since the companies do not have
permits to work on Shabbos. The Transportation Ministry is
vested with the authority to control the bus companies' hours
of operation, but drivers run buses without licenses.
Since nothing has been done to stop the Shabbos desecration
despite the Finance Committee's conclusions several weeks,
Rabbi Gafni sent urgent letters to the Ministry of Trade and
Industry and the Attorney General, asking them to inquire
into the matter.
In a letter to Tzvi Rosentzweig, who is in charge of the Work
and Rest Hours Law at the Ministry of Trade and Industry,
Rabbi Gafni wrote, "I'd like to know what has been done with
these companies and whether you have acted to issue reports
or any other legal procedure required for those who
transgress the law."
Copies of the letter were sent to Minister of Trade and
Industry Eli Yishai, Attorney General Atty. Mani Mazuz and
the public transportation companies.
