The Tel Aviv-Jaffa City Council passed a proposal to operate public transportation on Shabbos Kodesh. The disgraceful decision must be approved by the Transportation Ministry, which later announced that it would not lend a hand in upsetting the status quo. Therefore the decision of the Tel Aviv City Council was essentially a populist, vote-getting gesture with no substance.
The decision was reached during a council meeting to discuss a motion by Council Member Tamar Zandberg (Meretz), passing by a 13 to 9 vote, and it is subject to the approval of the City Board.
Following the vote the council decided to contact the Transportation Ministry to seek approval. On Tuesday the ministry rejected the request, citing a status quo on public transportation stretching back several decades, "and we do not intend to violate it."
