Local Leaders Protest Public Transport Collapse in West Bank and Jerusalem Areas

Mayors and council heads from the West Bank and Jerusalem regions, served by the "Tnuufa" public transportation company, staged a protest at the Ministry of Transport on Wednesday. They demanded immediate action to restore regular public transit services, citing severe disruptions, surprise strikes, and a 5% non-performance rate in the first half of 2026. The officials arrived directly at the office of Transport Minister Miri Regev, only to find she was not present.

Tnuufa won the Ministry of Transport tender in late 2020 and began operations in 2021, with a 10-year contract for the West Bank and Jerusalem Corridor areas, leaving approximately seven years of operation remaining. The company serves numerous towns and cities, including Ariel, Beit Shemesh, Karnei Shomron, Alfei Menashe, and Kiryat Ye'arim. Residents in these areas have repeatedly complained about the company's poor service.

Local leaders emphasized that the situation is untenable, especially in the West Bank where there are few alternative transportation options. The recently opened Samaria-Tayibe train station offers only partial service and requires transfers. "Public transport in the area is in complete collapse," declared Karnei Shomron Council head Yehonatan Koenitz. Ariel Mayor Yair Shacham stated, "The residents of Ariel and Judea and Samaria are not abandoned. Thousands of residents are paying the price for the ongoing failure of the Ministry of Transport." Beit Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg described the situation as "transport chaos."

Passengers shared harrowing experiences, including lengthy waits, canceled routes, and buses that failed to stop. Estella Orlansky, 68, from Ariel, described taking four buses to work due to missing routes and buses not stopping for her. Soldier Meir Shaul recounted submitting 34 complaints in four months due to canceled buses and significant delays, noting that the issue is systemic and not with individual drivers. He called for Tnuufa's immediate removal and replacement with a reliable operator.

The Ministry of Transport responded by stating it is actively addressing the service deficiencies and is using its enforcement powers. The ministry noted that Tnuufa has been given strict deadlines to present a plan for significant service improvement. If an adequate plan is not submitted, the ministry will initiate a tender for a new operator. "The Ministry of Transport will not accept damage to public transport service," the ministry stated, vowing to use all available oversight and enforcement tools.