Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon issued an apology to Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben-Dahan. Ya’alon reversed his decision regarding a three-month pilot program to operate segregated buses in Yehuda and Shomron without informing Ben-Dahan, leading to an embarrassing situation.

After Ya’alon announced the pilot program to operate separate buses for Jews and PA (Palestinian Authority) residents throughout Yehuda and Shomron, the Labor opposition party put forward a query in Knesset. DM Ben-Dahan responded as the official government representative. As Ben-Dahan explained to the Knesset plenum session of the casualties from the so-called ‘intifadas’ and the dangers resulting with Arabs traveling on the same buses, the decision was reversed by Ya’alon and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu without Ben-Dahan’s knowledge.

Mr. Ya’alon later explained that the decision went back and forth and consultations regarding the program were constant, and that is why he forgot to update his deputy, and not as an intentional act to cause him any embarrassment.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)