Israel's health minister Yaakov Litzman has handed in his resignation, following the government's refusal to stop rail maintenance work during the Sabbath, a Jewish day of rest. Litzman heads a powerful ultra-Orthodox political party. He called the timing of the rail work unnecessary, and accused the government of violating the Jewish holy day. Ultra-Orthodox parties are an important contingent of Israel's ruling coalition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would not dissolve over the issue.