Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz has responded on Israeli public radio to criticism against him over his decision to block the construction of the Yehudit pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Tel Aviv's Ayalon on Saturday.
Katz said, "The mayor of Tel Aviv made a cynical and outrageous move in an attempt to hurt the haredim ahead of the local elections, but on the way he was willing to hurt thousands of drivers. Just as the routes are not to be closed in the middle of the week, so is it unreasonable to to build a pedestrian bridge even on six weekends. The most significant thing, and it's my job as a minister, is to see the overall vision."