MK Hershkovitz: DST debate is not a religious struggle

Hershkovitz: "The early switch to Standard Time does not help religious people." Yishai says will not change decision to move clocks before Yom Kippur.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Science and Technology Minister Daniel Hershkovitz (Habayit Hayehudi) said on Sunday that "it is not clear why Daylight Saving Time is part of the fight between the religious and secular."
"The early switch to Standard Time does not help religious people and I do not see a reason why Daylight Saving Time can not be kept for longer because it will bring economic savings,  Hershkovitz said.
The science and technology minister added that "there is a possibility that politicians from both sides climbed onto a tall ladder and now do not know how to get down from it, but I don't find any Jewish aspect to this issue. Most of the nation, who finds the fast day important, will fast anyway no matter how long it lasts.
Also on Sunday Interior Minister Eli Yishai announced that there will not be a change to the move to back to Daylight Saving Time after Yom Kippur.
Yishai said that in order for a change to take place a legislative procedure would need to take place and he has no objection to that, however carrying out the procedure is not possible in such a short space of time.
Yishai earlier considered returning to Standard Time a week after Yom Kippur.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends in two weeks on September 12, before Yom Kippur, moving the clock back by an hour.