Israel approves plans to shut supermarkets over Shabbat

Opposition parties Meretz and Yesh Atid are planning to petition the High Court, claiming the law is unconstitutional because it “forces all Israelis to adopt a religious lifestyle.”

Mr Dery tweeted after the law passed that it was “not a ‘Haredi victory’.”

“It is keeping the status quo and a victory for the silent majority in Israel who want to preserve the Jewish character of the state,” he said.

The law also illustrated the present state of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition in which each party can force the rest to vote for its pet laws.

Yet the government’s majority was in jeopardy for the Shabbat law after the members of Yisrael Beiteinu, a right-wing party that objects to religious laws, voted against it.

Two other coalition MKs rebelled against the whip and were absent.

The coalition succeeded in mustering enough members to win 58-57 in a vote that finally took place at 2.15am.

The law was drafted after the High Court ruled last year that the government did not have the power to dictate to local authorities over trading on Shabbat.

In the face of opposition from local politicians, the law became a symbol for Strictly Orthodox parliamentarians wanting to ensure “the Jewish character” of Israel’s public spaces.

Many Likud lawmakers, ministers and mayors admitted openly that the law was unrealistic and could harm them with their voters, but Mr Netanyahu ordered the coalition whip David Amsalem to deliver the votes in an effort to please Charedi parties.

Likud whips went as far as to initiate expulsion procedures against one MK, Sharen Haskel, who refused to vote in favour.