In a move that may elicit a response from rabbonim of the mehadrin buses committee, the Ministry of Transportation is setting up a new ethnically separate line to serve PA (Palestinian Authority) residents traveling from Tel Aviv towards Shomron at the end of a workday. The ministry is responding to growing complaints from Israelis against PA day laborers, explaining their use of public transportation creates a shortage of seats on lines to yishuvim, as well as documenting many cases in which there were disputes between the PA riders and Israelis in addition to reported offensive acts committed against Jewish females by PA residents on the buses.

There are also documented cases in which drivers of the Afikim Company refused to permit PA residents to board, adding weight to those favoring the segregated bus line. The new bus service will pick up the PA residents from Gush Dan and transport them to IDF checkpoints in Shomron. According to the law, the PA laborers are not permitted to get onto a public bus without having undergone a security inspection at an IDF checkpoint. This was highlighted anew following last week’s bus bombing attack in Tel Aviv.

Walla News reports that “settlers pointed out following that attack that the PA residents use public transportation without undergoing proper security inspections as required.” The “settlers” referred to the fact that the laborers board buses in Gush Dan and head to the Shomron while they are not stopped for inspection at an IDF checkpoint. Hence they can be carrying anything to be used in perpetrating an attack in Shomron because they bypass inspection or simply carry out the attack on buses.

Walla reports learning that last week officials from the transportation ministry and Afikim Tours met, speaking about operating the new ethnically separate bus line for PA residents towards finding an acceptable solution. The bus would transport them from Gush Dan and drop them at Shomron checkpoints. At that point they would be inspected, and only after inspection reentering the Shomron and use public transportation to make it to their homes.

Perhaps to bypass any shouts of racial discrimination it is being announced by ministry officials that any Israeli wishing to take the bus and get off at an IDF checkpoint will be free to do so. This is no different than the Oslo Agreement permitting Israelis to enter Areas “B”, but in reality, doing so results in attacks against Jews by Arabs. As such, the IDF recommends Jews refrain from entering an Area “B”, which is under Israeli security but PA administrative control.

Herzl Ben-Ari, who heads the Karnei Shomron Local Council, confirms that residents of yishuvim have been complaining for a long time over the growing number of PA residents on the buses heading to Shomron. He points out they take the seats and they create friction with Israeli passengers. “I am pleased with the proposed solution to meet their needs, those laborers seeking to earn an honest livelihood” adds Ben-Ari, who also stated the solution permits Jews to return to their communities without fear of an attack on the bus home.

Officials of Shai (Shomron-Yehuda) Police explain they are aware of the efforts to establish such a bus line to service PA residents returning home to Shomron. Shai officials support the plan, which will compel the laborers to undergo a security inspection as required by law.

Ministry of transportation officials responding to the report highlight that there is no decision regarding a bus exclusively for PA residents, adding there is no prohibition banning them from Israeli buses, referring to those PA residents with a permit to cross the Green Line into “Israel proper”. The new bus line under consideration would travel to areas in southern Shomron the ministry states, emphasizing Israeli may use it as well.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)