sabbath dispute causes transport headaches in israel
Thursday 14 August 2025
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Sabbath dispute causes transport headaches in Israel

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleSabbath dispute causes transport headaches in Israel

Train cancellations in Israel affected 150,000 passengers
Jerusalem - AFP

Israel saw major traffic jams on Sunday after a political dispute over work on the Jewish day of rest brought trains to a daylong halt, officials said.

The cancellations affected 150,000 passengers out of a daily total of 213,000, the country's rail company said, leading to replacement shuttle buses and gridlock on roads.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled rail work set to be undertaken over Sabbath, the weekly Jewish day of rest from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, after objections from ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.

Ultra-orthodox parties, which demand strict adherence to Jewish law, hold key positions in Netanyahu's government and have often played a kingmaker role in Israel's politics.

They control 13 seats in Netanyahu's coalition, which includes 66 out of 120 seats in parliament.

Hit by the Sabbath ban, trains between the northern city of Haifa and commercial capital Tel Aviv could not run on Sunday morning, the start of the working week in Israel.

The work instead began after sunset Saturday, with the train service only resuming on Sunday evening after the rush-hour peak. 

Soldiers set to return to their bases after the weekend were reportedly among those affected by the morning cancellations, with special buses arranged for their transport in response.

Several hundred people protested in Tel Aviv and Haifa on Saturday at the disruptions, media reported.

Netanyahu was widely criticised over the cancellations, but he sought to blame Transport Minister Yisrael Katz, his rival within the right-wing Likud party.

He argued that Katz had no reason to order the work to go ahead over Sabbath.

"This crisis is completely unnecessary," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

"Ministers are named to avoid crises, not to create them."

The two men have frequently jousted and speculation has built over whether Netanyahu will fire Katz, who receives support from a key faction of Likud.

But after a snap poll for Israeli public radio on Sunday showed 80 percent of the public against such a move, with 43 percent of respondents fingering Netanyahu as mainly to blame for the uproar, media reports said Katz's job was no longer on the line.  

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

sabbath dispute causes transport headaches in israel sabbath dispute causes transport headaches in israel

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 09:31 2017 Monday ,13 February

Concerns continue over Burj Khalifa iPhone drop test

GMT 02:36 2013 Sunday ,03 March

The Art of Forgetting

GMT 08:30 2017 Friday ,29 September

Guardian says journalist expelled from Morocco

GMT 06:18 2011 Monday ,20 June

Anglican Church to allow gay bishops

GMT 07:04 2013 Thursday ,23 May

The plot against Egypt

GMT 12:55 2017 Thursday ,08 June

Sources say George Wassof has not been excluded

GMT 17:05 2011 Tuesday ,12 April

The greenest car you\'ve never heard of

GMT 13:25 2018 Saturday ,20 January

Vienna marks 100 years since artistic heyday

GMT 13:23 2015 Wednesday ,15 July

Twitter can be better news tool

GMT 16:49 2017 Tuesday ,28 March

Settlements undermine 2-state solution

GMT 14:15 2017 Sunday ,01 October

At least 91 injured in Catalonia referendum clashes

GMT 08:26 2017 Friday ,10 November

Russia seizes top theatre director's assets
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle