A new bus route will begin operating in February 2012 towards facilitating travel between a number of southern region communities, including Tifrach, Beersheva, Yerucham, Ofakim and Netivot.

According to a report in the daily HaMevaser, the newroute is due to the efforts of MK Rabbi Moshe Gafne, who explained to senior Transportation Ministry officials that students and parents alike require an available route to permit them to travel between area communities, a route that to date does not exist.

Gafne explains that improving southern district transportation should be a national priority for without public transit that can sustain day-to-day life; efforts to attract new families to these areas will result in failure.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)