Liberman says ‘no place’ to interfere with court’s Shabbat ruling

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman tells members of his Israel Beytenu party there is “no place” for efforts by his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners to circumvent a High Court ruling allowing mini-markets to open on Shabbat.

“We are living with a status quo that has been created over many years,” he says, opining that the issue should be handled on a local municipal level.

“I think that this intervention on the matter of Shabbat in Tel Aviv has no place,” he adds.

He also dismisses the Palestinian prisoners hunger strike, maintaining the matter is a political battle between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and imprisoned terror leader Marwan Bargouti. On the latter, who was allegedly caught on camera sneaking food, he remarks: “I wish him bon appetit,” to titters.

— Marissa Newman