Talmidim in the nation’s hesder and pre-IDF mechina yeshivot will be able to ride on public buses free of charge beginning in two weeks.

At present, hesder students are classified by the Defense Ministry as “service without pay”, של”ת (שירות ללא תשלום), referring to the period of time they are in beis medrash and not the IDF. After they complete their military service they still have a number of years of learning under the hesder contract. Under the current agreement they pay a discounted fee of NIS 11.50 for inter-city buses without regard of the fare. They pay full fare on urban routes. They ride for free on Israel Railways.

Talmidim in mechina programs in the past paid full fare for all public transportation. They have never been included in any of the arrangements for IDF soldiers to receive discounted or free public transportation. In the previous 19th Knesset, now Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotevely succeeded in placing mechina talmidim in the same category as hesder talmidim, enjoying a reduced rate for inter-city travel. Unlike hesder students, mechina students paid full fare on Israel Railways.

Under the new arrangement, both hesder and mechina talmidim will ride for free. Beginning in December 2015, with the exception of Eilat, they will be riding for free, as is the case with IDF soldiers in uniform and soldiers with “combatant” status in or out of uniform. The new arrangement also includes members of Nachal groups in their year of service. All of the students and soldiers will of course have to have their relevant identification cards updated and present them to drivers to enjoy the benefits of the new arrangement.

Teens 18 and over will also enjoy new benefits that will begin in December, including half price fare for one who is escorting a disable passenger. Persons with valid ‘disabled’ cards will only have to pay 33% of the fare on buses and trains. Persons with Bituach Leumi supplemental income and other assistance may enjoy discounts as well.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)