Netanyahu averts coalition crisis over Sabbath ‘desecration’
Posted Nov 27, 2017 04:58:11 AM.
Last Updated Nov 27, 2017 09:20:48 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reached an agreement with his ultra-Orthodox allies to avert a potential coalition crisis following the resignation of his health minister over a scandal tied to railway infrastructure work on the Sabbath.
Netanyahu met with his ultra-Orthodox party allies on Sunday and agreed to a series of measures to limit labour on the Jewish Sabbath and preserve the religious status quo in exchange for their continued allegiance.
Ultra-Orthodox Health Minister Yaakov Litzman resigned Sunday over the railway uproar, saying it was a “desecration” that contradicted Jewish values. The move threatened Netanyahu’s coalition by paving way for other religious parties to push for concessions.
Netanyahu also agreed to advance a bill allowing Litzman to serve as deputy health minister, despite a court order barring the practice.
