Construction of Ultra-Orthodox City Continues During Holiday

Intensive infrastructure work on the "Kiryat Gat West" ultra-Orthodox city project is proceeding rapidly, even during a Jewish holiday, unlike safety or railway projects that halt on the Sabbath. These are not considered safety-related roadworks or railway construction, nor are they life-saving operations, but rather the development of the new ultra-Orthodox neighborhood itself. This follows similar reports in April of heavy machinery operating on the Sabbath for the "Plugot" ultra-Orthodox city project in the south, previously known as Kiryat Gat West.

This city, intended to alleviate housing shortages in the ultra-Orthodox sector, was redesignated by former Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf. A policy document from about two years ago outlines plans for "Plugot" to span 11,300 dunams and accommodate 207,000 residents. Despite the city's final government approval pending, extensive infrastructure work, including land preparation for residential buildings, is actively underway on the Sabbath.

In response to the April report, Goldknopf stated he viewed the Sabbath construction in western Kiryat Gat with extreme severity and initiated an urgent investigation. Although no longer Housing Minister, he emphasized that no government body or ministry is permitted to violate the status quo by working on the Sabbath. He intends to immediately contact current Housing Minister Haim Katz and the "Arim" company for clarification, vowing not to permit any infringement on the sanctity of the Sabbath.