Shas deflected criticism of its stance on the implementation of winter time, saying that it was really Meretz that was delaying a deal that would extend summer time. “Interior Minister Eli Yishai has led the move towards a substantial change in the implementation of summer time and adopted recommendations on the matter of extending it,” Shas said in a statement. “A bill to extend summer time is currently in committee, where it is being held up by Meretz representatives,” the statement added,

Summer time ended in Israel at 2:00 AM Sunday morning, and winter time will remain in effect until March 31, 2013.