Pending a government hearing on the opening of Tel Aviv businesses on Shabbat, Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel commented: "The Shabbat is a Jewish and national value anchored in historical status quo, therefore harming its character without agreement and dialogue would constitute a tragedy for the generations and I will oppose it."
According to Ariel, "The solution the government needs to undertake is to lengthen the weekend until Sunday. In such a fashion, most of the disagreements and battles about Shabbat will become irrelevant. This I believe and this I will advance."