Ben Gurion Airport Cargo Loading Ordered on Yom Kippur, Sparking Outrage

Employees at Ben Gurion Airport's cargo handling company, Maman, were reportedly instructed to report for work on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, to address operational delays. This directive breaks a long-standing tradition in Israel, where all national activity, including at the airport, typically ceases on Yom Kippur.

The decision to continue loading cargo planes has drawn sharp criticism from employees and the public, particularly within religious and Haredi communities, who view it as a desecration of the holy day. The work is reportedly intended solely to catch up on shipping schedules.

Member of Knesset Avi Maoz, chairman of the Noam party, has written to Transportation Minister Miri Regev, demanding her immediate intervention to halt the work. Maoz emphasized that forcing employees to work on Yom Kippur for operational catch-up is unacceptable in the State of Israel.

"It is inconceivable that in the State of Israel, employees would be required to report and work on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the Jewish people, to complete operational delays," Maoz stated in his letter. He urged Regev to cancel the order immediately and instruct relevant parties not to compel employees to work during the holiday, stressing the need to respect the sanctity of the day and prevent its desecration at a public site like the airport.

This incident follows previous accusations of Shabbat and holiday desecration at Ben Gurion Airport in recent years, but the requirement to work on Yom Kippur has generated particularly strong backlash.