The coalition crisis with the NRP appears to be over - by order of Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein. He wrote a letter to Minister of Labor Ehud Olmert forbidding him from carrying out his plan to suspend the work of inspectors enforcing the Sabbath laws.
Olmert announced last week, at the behest of his friend and Cabinet colleague Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid of the anti-religious Shinui party, that he would suspend the inspectors' work. Rubenstein wrote that Olmert must act in accordance with the law, and that no political or government element has the authority to suspend the enforcement of the law.
The National Religious Party had threatened to quit the government if Olmert's plan were carried out. NRP leader Effie Eitam said last week that the fact that businesses owners keep their establishments open even after they have been fined is not a reason for the government to ignore its own laws. "Income tax laws and traffic laws are also not totally observed," he said. "Should we not enforce those either?"
Olmert announced last week, at the behest of his friend and Cabinet colleague Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid of the anti-religious Shinui party, that he would suspend the inspectors' work. Rubenstein wrote that Olmert must act in accordance with the law, and that no political or government element has the authority to suspend the enforcement of the law.
The National Religious Party had threatened to quit the government if Olmert's plan were carried out. NRP leader Effie Eitam said last week that the fact that businesses owners keep their establishments open even after they have been fined is not a reason for the government to ignore its own laws. "Income tax laws and traffic laws are also not totally observed," he said. "Should we not enforce those either?"