Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has decided PA (Palestinian Authority) residents will not be permitted on buses from the center of the country to Yehuda and Shomron. The senior minister is acting on a request from leaders of yishuv communities, who explain the Arabs often harass the Jewish passengers on the bus and the buses become overcrowded. Despite the request to the minister, IDF officials do not feel that PA residents riding these buses presents a security risk to others.

Civil rights activists feel the decision is discriminatory against Arabs employed in the center of the country and then have to return home to PA autonomous areas in Yehuda and Shomron. The buses in question are on routes passing Route 5. The riders, Jewish residents of Yehuda and Shomron who ride the same buses insist the PA residents often harass riders and as they often board in groups, result in severe overcrowding.

The PA laborers will now have to get to the Eyal Checkpoint located in the Kalkilye area to pass an inspection prior to crossing the Green Line and heading home.

Officials in the IDF Central Command commented they are not aware of any security risk to passengers posed by the PA residents and from their perspective, they should be permitted to continue riding on the buses.

The arrangement is a pilot program that began on the Afikim Company lines about six months ago, permitting PA laborers with valid work permits to board and ride the buses with Israelis to expedite and facilitate their travel home. Opponents to the defense minister’s decision warn it is simply unjustifiable and it “throws Israel back into the dark ages”. Peace Now CEO Yariv Oppenheimer commented “The ban against PA residents to board buses with settlers brings Israel back to the dark ages of slavery to the United States to apartheid in S. Africa. The ugly face of occupation is visible to all”.

Ariel Mayor Eli Shaviro feels the decision is based solely on the realization there is a security concern regarding PA residents boarding the same and returning home. “There is no connection to segregated busing on public transportation routes” the mayor concluded.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)