Chareidi Jewry has reacted favorably to the firm position
taken by the UTJ Knesset representatives in withdrawing from
membership in the Government coalition over the issue of
Shabbos desecration. They have been commended for resigning
from the coalition in the wake of the directives of
maranan verabonon, members of the Moetzes Gedolei
HaTorah issued after a turbine component was transferred on
Shabbos night parshas Nitzovim in spite of promises
made by the Office of the Prime Minister.
On motzei Shabbos kodesh, the gedolei haTorah
told the members of the UTJ party in the Knesset to withdraw
from the coalition. The next day, party representatives sent
a letter to the Prime Minister announcing their resignation
from the coalition, saying, "The Shabbos desecration
constitutes contempt for the feelings of the hundreds of
thousands of people who sanctify Shabbos."
They noted that the failure of the Office of the Prime
Minister to fulfill its promises, in addition to the recent
lack of good faith, is also a "breach of the coalition
agreement with the party regarding honoring Shabbos."
The chareidi community was very pleased with this decision
and with the resolute insistence of the UTJ party regarding
the sanctity of Shabbos. This may be contrasted with other
parties who are delaying their decision on this issue,
displaying full support for a Government which violates the
status quo day-in and day-out, especially with respect to
Shabbos observance.
It should be noted that on Thursday, the 26th of Elul, the
Committee of Directors General which was founded for the
purpose of examining the possibilities of a weekday turbine
transfer inspected the route on which the components are
transferred, checking a number of possibilities for preparing
parking lots to enable the transfer of the equipment on
weekdays, especially between the Ganot interchange and the
Ashdod junction.
The Ganot interchange was found to be suitable as an
immediate stopover point. An area between the Yavneh and
Rishon leZion interchanges could also be prepared within a
month-and-a-half, pending approval of the planning committee.
The Ashdod interchange area itself was disqualified by the
police. Another suitable area was also found in the vicinity
of the Gan Yavneh interchange on the way to Ashkelon.
It is estimated that it will take a month-and-a-half to
prepare the parking lots. The committee recommends that these
lots serve as a permanent solution in order to limit future
Shabbos desecration. Last Tuesday, Michael Melchior said
yesterday that "an effort will be made to ask the companies
involved in the project to postpone the transfer of the
remaining turbines by a month-and-a-half."
Melchior also said that, "this coming Shabbos, the turbine
will not be transferred, out of the Freidenson Company's
consideration for the sanctity of Rosh Hashanah."
