Infrastructure Work on Planned Ultra-Orthodox City Continues on Sabbath
Intensive infrastructure work for the planned ultra-Orthodox city of Plugot near Kiryat Gat has been documented continuing through the Sabbath, sparking controversy.
Intensive infrastructure work for the massive ultra-Orthodox neighborhood project "Kiryat Gat West"—now planned as the new city of "Plugot"—has been documented continuing vigorously through the Sabbath, sparking controversy over Israel's status quo.
Unlike safety or railway maintenance projects that halt on Saturdays, and outside the scope of life-saving exemptions ("pikuach nefesh"), heavy machinery including bulldozers, tractors, and trucks were filmed operating on the site to prepare land for residential construction. The project, spanning 11,300 dunams, is designed to house approximately 207,000 ultra-Orthodox residents to help alleviate severe housing shortages in the sector.
Former Minister of Construction and Housing Yitzhak Goldknopf condemned the Sabbath operations, stating that no government body or ministry has permission to violate the status quo. Goldknopf demanded clarifications from housing authorities, emphasizing that compromises regarding the sanctity of the Sabbath will not be tolerated.
