News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Minister of Culture and Sport Raleb Majadele (Labor) has scheduled meetings with several groups supported by his ministry that work in the non-Jewish sector.  The meetings have been scheduled for Shabbat, even though some of the workers involved are Jewish and would be violating Jewish law if they were to attend.  Majadele reportedly told all workers that their attendance at the meetings was mandatory.

MK Eliyahu Gabbai (NU/NRP) slammed Majadele’s decision to call the meetings for Shabbat, which violates the government’s policy of avoiding meetings on Shabbat.  In a letter to Majadele, Gabbai wrote, “You actions are a continuation of your statement that Israeli law does not apply to the Temple Mount, and that the laws of your religion take precedence over the state’s values.  I do not understand how you can continue to serve as a minister in the state of Israel and yet ignore the state’s laws and values.”

If Majadele does not feel obligated to abide by Israel’s rules and values, Gabbai said, he should quit his position.  Gabbai sent a copy of the letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.  Neither Olmert nor Majadele have responded to the letter at this time.