Sabbath storm in the Prime Minister's Office: Is the civil service required to work on the weekend?
[61204] Sabbath storm in the Prime Minister's Office: Is the civil service required to work on the weekend?
Public criticism of Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs following the sending of the agenda for the cabinet meeting shortly before the onset of the Sabbath.
Criticism of the Cabinet Secretary due to work demands on Sabbath eve
A minor storm was recorded today (May 15, 2026) surrounding the conduct of Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs, after the agenda for the cabinet meeting was distributed to government offices at 15:45 – only a few hours before the onset of the Sabbath.
According to Channel 12's 99 Corner - Yanir Cozin and Yaron Avraham (which demonstrates a critical stance toward Netanyahu), the move forces the professional echelon in the ministries "to sit on the Sabbath and prepare themselves for the meeting that will take place on Sunday morning," because they are required to be familiar with the material and present answers to the ministers. The channel Political Arena echoed the same claim, defining it as part of Fuchs' "mission" to force employees to work on the day of rest.
Conversely, News Arena reported that Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs responded to the claims that sending the documents at this time causes desecration of the Sabbath among the ministry staff, without detailing the content of his response beyond the fact of its existence. As of now, the issue reflects the ongoing tension between the need for ongoing government work management and religious sensitivity and the employment conditions of state employees.