Wide-scale chilul Shabbos was caused when Education
Minister Yuli Tamir met with representatives of student
unions, which signed an agreement on Motzei Shabbos not to
hold a strike that was originally scheduled to start on
Sunday.
The student organizations had announced an open-ended strike
at universities due to various claims and complaints against
the Education Ministry. Last Friday student representatives
met with the Education Minister in an attempt to prevent the
strike. According to Lital Apter, the Education Minister's
media advisor, the meeting began on Friday afternoon and
ended around 6:30, about an hour and a half after candle-
lighting time. Apter says the two sides made phone calls
during Shabbos as well "for the sake of the students and the
country."
The chilul Shabbos in an official ministerial capacity
drew furious reactions and tough questions aimed at the
religious MKs in the coalition that desecrates Shabbos
openly.
MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni said this was not the first time
ministers in the current government have desecrated Shabbos,
whereas previously meetings and other official activities
were always held at other times.
"UTJ will have to weigh submitting a no-confidence motion
over this and examine the conduct of the Shas Party, which is
a member of the government," he said.
