Despite the Kadima MK’s bill seeking to excuse motorists from paying toll on Kvish 6, the Yitzchak Rabin Highway, the final decision was made on Sunday, defeating the bill.

MK Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich felt that if drivers are stuck in traffic they should not be compelled to pay the tolls on the highway. While the bill was gaining popularity it was ultimately defeated. Minister of Environmental Affairs Gilad Erdan enlisted a coalition of supporters to reverse the initial vote defeating the bill and this was accomplished over the objections of Finance Minister Dr. Yuval Shteinitz. The bill was set for a vote in Knesset next week.

Fearing a significant loss of revenue, Shteinitz was adamant in his demand for another vote, during which he explained that when the roadway was under construction, the relevant government agencies never thought to demand compensatory damages for traffic snarls from the operator, in this case Derech Eretz, and as such lost revenue will be the loss of the nation’s budget, not the Derech Eretz Company that runs the highway.

Shteinitz got the upper hand in persuading his cabinet colleagues and the bill was defeated in the second vote.

Derech Eretz officials add they are doing everything possible to prevent traffic snarls and motorists may update on traffic conditions on the highway website http://www.kvish6.co.il/ or by phoning *6116 before getting onto the highway.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)