Summer's going to last until October 1, Yishai announces

New calendar has Daylight Saving Time from 182 to 193 days; interior minister: committee will monitor effects on energy savings, transportation.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Eli Yishai 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Eli Yishai 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Interior Minister Eli Yishai announced Monday that the special committee for a new "summer clock" has recommended to set Daylight Saving Time 193 days between the last weekend of March and October 1. The current system had summer time lasting 182 days between the end of Pessah and the weekend between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
If October 1 falls in the middle of Rosh Hashana, or on Shabbat, then the winter clock will begin a day prior.
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Yishai said he would take the committee's recommendations, which were agreed upon unanimously, and implement them starting this year.
The interior minister commended the committee's work, saying "they sat and determined [the change] independently. We gave them the freedom to examine the international situation, the consequences of the change, and the savings we may accrue in energy and if there will be any impact on [highway safety]," adding their work was "very professionally done."
The debate over changing Israel Summer Time heated up in 2010 when the winter clock began very early on September 12 due to the drastic difference between the Hebrew and secular calendars.
This meant that the Israel returned to the winter clock two months prior to the US and Europe.
As for whether or not the new calendar will in fact save energy or prevent traffic accidents, Yishai said "there is no research that points neither here nor there." Looking ahead, he added "this too will be checked."