Petition calls on MKs not to use official vehicles on Sabbath

Activists pushing for public transportation on weekends started a petition to stop ministers from using taxpayer-funded vehicles until a ban on public transportation on Shabbat and other Jewish holidays is lifted.

By law, public transportation in much of Israel largely does not operate on Shabbat (Friday evening to Saturday evening) and Jewish holidays, forcing those who don’t observe to seek out other means of transport. Cabs and shared taxis, the only available alternative to private cars, charge increased fares on days when public transportation doesn’t run.

The petition calls for government officials who advocate upholding the ban on public transportation to not use their official vehicles on the Jewish Sabbath.

As of Saturday evening, the online petition, launched Wednesday, had garnered 16,643 signatures — two percent of its declared target of 1,000,000.

“It is critically important not to allow ministers who prevent the use of public transport on weekends and holidays to use vehicles financed by taxpayers,” the petition reads. “It’s time that all elected officials lead by example, especially [Transportation Minister Yisrael] Katz, whose strong opposition to public transport on weekends and holidays hurts the disadvantaged — particularly youth, soldiers, students and seniors.”

Katz, a Likud party minister, has insisted on maintaining the status quo. Dozens of people rallied for public transportation service on Shabbat outside his home Thursday afternoon, a day after he vowed not to allow public buses to run on the Jewish day of rest. Katz has denigrated those seeking public transport on Shabbat as leftists.

Among those pushing for public transportation on Jewish holidays was Meretz party MK Tamar Zandberg, who said that the protest wasn’t a matter of right or left wing politics, but of “social and ecological justice.”

She promised further demonstrations “on upcoming Shabbatot and holidays until the situation changes.”

One signatory to the online petition her called on others to document government officials using publicly financed vehicles on days when public transportation is not made available.

“The transportation minister should set an example to the public and maintain the status quo by not using his car!” Nora Golan wrote. “Everyone must start filming officials who use their cars on Saturday.”

The issue of operating public transportation year-round has been a highly contentious one in Israel. Many non-religious Israelis insist the ban hinders those who don’t own a car, while the religious community insists the policy help protects the Jewish character of the state.