Although the government upheld a pledge by Government
Secretary Yisrael Maimon to MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni not to hold
an official ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport on
Shabbos morning to welcome of US Defense Secretary Condoleeza
Rice, according to press reports Rice's landing involved
large-scale Shabbos desecration by security personnel.
According to press reports shortly after 9:00 am on
Shabbos Kodesh the plane carrying Rice and her
entourage landed and she set out for Ramallah in an armored
limousine provided by the US Embassy. Because the caravan
passed through Jerusalem, Israeli authorities dispatched
extensive police and military forces to escort the US Defense
Secretary.
The Shabbos desecration resulting from the escort stirred
wide-scale public criticism, but the most piercing criticism
was voiced by public figures over the lack of sensitivity on
the part of officials at the Prime Minister's Office and the
Defense Ministry for arranging the landing on Shabbos.
Based on a demand by Rabbi Gafni, Government Secretary Maimon
ordered the postponement of a meeting between Rice and
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz originally scheduled for 8:00
p.m., half an hour before nightfall. The meeting was
rescheduled and Mofaz did not leave his home until Shabbos
ended.
