DST during wartime

Minister of Trade Nir Barkat has proposed that Israel delay the transition to "winter time".

Israel is scheduled to transition off of DST to Winter Time at the end of October. According to Barkat, the troops will benefit form the extra hour of daylight during active hours, so instead of sunset at 4:30 it would be at 5:30, and the economy will benefit from this as well. Additionally, people get down and depressed during the winter months with darkness settling in early - keeping it daylight for a bit longer will keep people's spirits up a bit.

Some support the initiative, saying it will help the war efforts.

Others oppose the initiative. Minister from Shas along with Minister of Communication Shlomo Karhi are opposed to the initiative because it will hurt religious people who need to pray. With a late sunrise people wont be able to pray until 7am instead of at 6am.

source: Ynet

I do not personally have an opinion on the matter other than to say that if it really would help the troops and the general morale of the nation, and I do not know if it will or wont and that should be studied, it should be done. At this time that is the most important thing. The religious people, myself included, can sacrifice a bit and daven a little later for a short period of time. It seems a little selfish while the troops are sacrificing everything including their lives, or at least risking them, that davening at 7 is our biggest problem and we give priority to that. And again, I do not know if extending daylight savings time will help the troops, and that should be studied, but if it will it should be done.

The only justification I can think of for the opposition of the extension is if the opposing ministers are referring to religious soldiers not being able to daven until 7am which might be too late for them. If they are referring to civilians I see no justification in the event that the troops really will benefit from the extension.

I do think it is interesting that this is an effect of, and conversely can effect, the war.

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