Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman is heard on an audio tape in a closed meeting for his party explaining he will not enter any coalition before he receives guarantees regarding the observance of Shabbos. The audio tape of his comments was released by Walla News.

During a closed election meeting on Sunday, Litzman made his comments on the background of the infrastructure work for Israel Railways on weekends, including Shabbos.

Litzman added that he and his colleagues in the party did not protest sufficiently to protect Shabbos in the last administration, letting too much Chilul Shabbos pass silently. Hence, he has clarified that the same will not be true if his party is expected to enter the next coalition. He decried that “Shabbos has become a day for renovations”, insisting “If we protect Shabbos, Shabbos will protect us and there will be quiet once again”.

In an election gathering held in Tiveria on Sunday, Litzman announced the polls show that there is no guarantee the next government will be a right-wing one headed by Binyamin Netanyahu. “We will recommend Netanyahu and we are in favor of Netanyahu, but we are uncertain what will take place here.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)