“To my regret Israel Railways has recently turned the Sabbath into ‘national renovations day,’” Mr. Litzman told reporters after submitting his resignation, which is scheduled to go into effect within 48 hours. “The Sabbath is important to us, and so are the needs of all citizens of Israel, including, of course, the need for safe and continuous transportation,” Mr. Netanyahu said at the start of the cabinet meeting. Mr. Netanyahu, plagued by graft investigations involving illicit gifts of cigars and champagne, among other things, worked quickly to minimize the damage and keep his government on track. Mr. Litzman said he would consider returning as deputy minister only after the convenience store law had passed. Previous governments have faced crises and even fallen over issues like airplanes landing on the Sabbath.

Source: New York Times November 27, 2017 00:11 UTC