After wrestling for the second successive week with the problem of how the Government should handle the continuing demonstrations by zealots trying to enforce stricter Sabbath observances in this city, Israel’s Cabinet today turned over the matter to a Ministerial Committee, which will report on the issue. The committee is composed of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol, Minister of Police Bechor Shitreet, Interior Minister Moshe Shapiro and Minister of Transport Israel Bar Yehuda. The demonstrations have been going on for more than 10 weeks, with many of the actions by the ultra-Orthodox being centered near the Mandelbaum Gate, where tourists arrive from the Jordanian area.
Some members of the Cabinet favored, during the continuing debate at today’s session, the rerouting of Madelbaum Gate traffic on Saturdays, so as to bypass the sensitive neighborhoods. Other Ministers, who have inspected the area, opposed such a plan, saying it would be tantamount to “submission” to the ultra-Orthodox, who would then make further demands.
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