A new protest by left-wing anti-Jewish organizations led Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz to respond harshly to a commenter on his Facebook page.
""This coming Thursday, Israeli citizens without cars will enter a 3-day curfew without public transportation," the commenter wrote. "So that we can explore our beautiful country, we have opened a hitchhiking board on the page of MK Yisrael Katz, Israel's Minister of Transportation. Don't hesitate to ask who is going where, otherwise you will be stuck at home.".
Katz did not hesitate, and responded: "I will answer once on the subject. Contact Bozhi Herzog to commit not to sit in a government that does not change the status quo. The hypocrisy of you and your friends on the left, the salary collectors of the 'For Public Transportation' associations, was proven in the last elections, and received the appropriate answer at the ballot box.".
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The commenter wrote again: "My name is Omri, 27 years old, a resident of Jerusalem, and I belong to the Rav-Kav Owners Party in Israel. This is a party of people who use public transportation their entire lives and depend on it, just like car owners depend on their vehicles.
""The response that the administrator of your Facebook page chose to formulate (I sincerely hope that His Honor did not formulate such a poor response himself) simply does not address the merits of the matter.
""What does it have to do with Bozhi Herzog? Is he in any position? Is he the Minister of Transportation? Is he the Prime Minister? Left-wing organizations? Do you think only leftists use public transportation?"
""I invite you to take a tour with me on the Jerusalem light rail, on line 480 from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, or on other lines of Dan and other companies, and see the entire country there - right-wingers, leftists, old people, ultra-Orthodox, young people, children, and in short - everyone.".
And Katz - or whoever on his behalf operates the page - wrote back: "I read your comment about the Prime Minister on the page and your political positions are clear. Since you are being stupid, I will clarify again: The status quo regarding Shabbat is anchored in legislation that governs the state and political agreements, and is not related to the personal policy of the Minister of Transportation.
""No party has pledged not to sit in the government without changing the status quo. In the next elections, you will form a party and ask for the public's trust, and in the meantime, stop the display of hypocrisy.".
The media was quick to make excuses for the responses, of course while omitting many details from the discussion - such as Katz's claim about the commenter's political views, and the claim that the status quo is not the law.
