Israel moves its clocks back earlier than other countries, which will end daylight saving time on October 29. The Knesset approved a compromise this year between secular and religious parties which agreed that standard time will start every year early Sunday morning before the Yom Kippur fast but will end early Friday morning before the American changeover, which is on the first Sunday in April.



The accord ended a long-standing argument over whether to begin daylight (summer) time before or after the Passover holiday. Passover falls in April almost every year. Yom Kippur usually falls in September or very early in October. This year it will start the evening of October 12, the latest possible date. The Jewish calendar is set according to the moon while other countries use the Gregorian calendar, which is set according to the sun.



The United States Congress has approved a bill to take effect in 2007 which will lengthen the period of daylight saving time from mid-March until late November. Many agricultural and industrial groups as well as observant Jews are trying to convince lawmakers to change the bill.



The proposed time changes would make it difficult for Jews to arrive to work in time if they join morning prayers at synagogues.