A sensitive explosion will be conducted at a test site in southern Israel in a few weeks. It will not be a test of a state-of-the-art weapon system or sophisticated missile, but of a simple bus. Actually, two buses to be precise, one with a compressed natural gas (CNG) engine, and the other with an ordinary diesel motor. Both buses will be bombed by Israel Police sappers to test precisely whether a terrorist bombing of a CNG-driven bus causes more casualties and property damage than an identical bombing of a diesel powered bus.

The results of the test may not affect Israel’s strategic standing, but it will have repercussions for the country’s public transport budget and for the quality of air breathed by the people. If the test shows that the bombing of a CNG powered bus is less damaging than the bombing of a diesel powered bus, the way will be open for Israel’s bus fleet to CNG. If the test goes the other way, we will probably be stuck with a diesel fleet for years to come.

Read the Globe’s article

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(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)