If Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai has his way, the day of rest will get a lot more bustling. In Israel, all public transportation currently grinds to a halt at the onset of Shabbat and holidays, forcing secular Jews to employ taxis or private cars if they wish to get around. This a policy that must end, Huldai said. Speaking at a conference in Tel Aviv, Huldai lamented the fact that Israel is the only Westernized country in the world that does not provide public transportation to its citizens for one-quarter of the year (taking into account all Saturdays and holidays). Without widespread and accessible public transportation, he said, the country's development is suffering. Huldai's comments could become a sticking point with Israel's ultra-Orthodox and religious sector, which has a stake in civil issues in Israel such as marriage and land ownership.
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El Al, Israel's national air carrier, is banned from flying on Shabbat.
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