travel on shabbat

Rent a car.

Renting a car is prob your only option. Public transport completely shuts down on Shabbat (we had the same situation and were just stuck in Jerusalem an extra day)

http://patrinadoestheglobe.blogspot.com/

Are they allowed to open the rental car business and hand out the key?

Have never heard of any country that there is no public transport one full day of a week - for any reason.

SV

The large bus companies and the trains do not run on Shabbat (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset). However the intercity Sherut (communal) taxis and private taxis operate everywhere as usual. There is limited bus service in Haifa on Sat afternoon and the busses in Arab areas of the Galilee (e.g. Nazareth) also operate.

Private transport is unrestricted (except for a few streets in ultra-orthodox Jewish areas). Many of the local car rental branches are closed on Saturday, like most businesses, and close earlier on Fridays. Check the hours carefully if you plan to pick up the car on a Friday.

Hi
We just returned from Eilat and tel Aviv last Wed. We also rented a car and drove. We arrived in Eilat shortly before everything closed down for Yom Kipper which was about 3 pm. We spoke with the owner of a 24 hr gas station/restaurant outside of Eilatand he said that Yom Kipper is the only hol8iday he shuts down. Outside of Jerusalem, most places are open except for the strictly kosher. On shabbot most places are open in Eilat, Tel Aviv and in between. This was our second trip o Israel and we found it the same on our first visit. Your best bet is to rent a car.