Israel – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intervened in a coalition dispute over a controversial bill proposed by Likud MK Miki Zohar which would ban commercial activity on Shabbat, following threats by Kulanu MKs to vote against the legislation if it were brought to a vote as was scheduled for Wednesday.
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The prime minister requested on Wednesday morning that Zohar withdraw the bill and reach agreements within the coalition on the terms of his proposed law before bringing it to a vote.
Zohar said that he had “decided to accede to Netanyahu’s request” and withdrew the bill from the agenda “following the prime minister’s request and that of our important coalition partner Kulanu.”
Zohar said he would present the bill on the floor of the Knesset plenum on Wednesday but would postpone the debate and vote on the bill.
“It’s clear to me that we’re talking about a complex law that is important for the State of Israel which would have broad consequences for the entire population,” said Zohar.
“I am of the opinion that there is a Jewish and social value in this law and therefore I will work to create agreement [on the issue] together with my friends in the coalition and opposition.”
Kulanu MK Rachel Azaria who lobbied to postpone the bill welcomed Zohar’s decision.
“The correct way to solve differences of opinion within the coalition is through agreement, especially on topics as sensitive as Shabbat.”
The scheduling of a vote in the plenum on Zohar’s bill for Wednesday came as a surprise to Kulanu since the party had only agreed to pass the legislation through the Ministerial Committee on Legislation on condition that it not be advanced in the Knesset without coalition consensus.
Azaria was meant to participate in a open debate on the bill initiated by Zohar on Tuesday but pulled out at the last moment. Later on Tuesday Kulanu MK Eli Cohen stated he would not vote in favor of the bill should it come to a vote on Wednesday, severely endangering the bill given the coalition’s razor thin majority.
Zohar’s bill would ban all commercial activity on Shabbat, apart from restaurants, bars, places of public entertainment, gas stations and pharmacies, unless they receive specific permission from the economy minister.
Violating this law could lead to fines of at least NIS 4,000 and even imprisonment of up to a year.