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Many commuters on buses traveling from inside Green Line proper to communities in Yehuda and Shomron express concern over the government decision to permit Arab laborers employed inside Green Line Israel to travel the same buses. Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon buckled under pressure and accusation of authorizing a racist policy, compelling PA (Palestinian Authority) residents to travel on their buses. As a result, the laborers regularly take buses and Jewish residents are fearful. The laborers often carry construction-related tools that can easily be used as a hammer or knife.

One resident of the Shomron, who travels the 286 bus which services Ariel, explains he cannot close his eyes for a moment on the bus for fear of what the Arab laborers will do, pointing out he is the lone Jew on the bus and as a result, he cannot send his wife or child on such a bus. He stresses this has nothing whatsoever to do with racism, but with basic security concerns.

To date, political efforts against the move have been unsuccessful and the laborers continue riding the same buses despite the ongoing wave of Islamic terror attacks against Israelis.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)