The Deputy Minister of Religious Services, Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan (Jewish Home), announced on Thursday that his party would appeal any bill with the purpose of hurting the rabbinical courts or changing the status quo in matters of religion and state.
The announcement comes as the Ministerial Committee on Legislation is set to debate a series of laws related to these issues, including one submitted by MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz) and which would allow public transportation to operate on Shabbat. Another law to be discussed is one being endorsed by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and which would give automatic preference to family courts over rabbinical courts.
"Some of the laws to be discussed are trying to change the balance that exists today between the family courts and the rabbinical courts, thus significantly weakening the rabbinical courts. Same goes for the law allowing public transportation on the Sabbath, which stands in stark contrast to the status quo,” Rabbi Ben-Dahan told Arutz Sheva.