Mayors Demand Action on Bus Service Failures, Meet Ministry Officials

Mayors from Samaria and the Jerusalem district arrived at the Ministry of Transport on Wednesday, September 16, seeking to discuss persistent disruptions with bus company "Tnufa" with Minister Miri Regev. However, the meeting did not take place as the minister was unavailable.

Problems with "Tnufa's" bus services in Samaria and the Jerusalem corridor have been ongoing and have recently worsened. Between January and July 2026, the company failed to complete up to 5% of its scheduled routes, negatively impacting passengers. "Tnufa" was granted its transport ministry license in 2020 and began operating routes in Ariel, Beit Shemesh, West Samaria, and the Jerusalem corridor in 2021, under a 10-year contract.

Residents have repeatedly complained about poor service, including canceled or delayed buses without explanation. The mayors are demanding penalties for "Tnufa" for failing to meet its contractual obligations after winning the ministry tender. In many areas, "Tnufa" holds a de facto monopoly on public transport, with the recently opened Shomron-Tayibe train station serving only a small fraction of commuters. Tens of thousands of students and soldiers rely on the bus service, for whom punctuality is critical.

One resident, Estela Orlansky, 68, from Ariel, described a recent journey to Tel Aviv that took over an hour longer than usual due to canceled direct buses and overcrowded replacements. Soldier Meir Shaul reported filing 34 complaints against "Tnufa" for delays and cancellations.

Mayors expressed frustration. Ariel Mayor Yair Shternbun stated, "Thousands of Israelis are paying for the Ministry of Transport's failure." Karnei Shomron Local Council head Yonatan Kuznitz added, "The company was given significant benefits to fulfill its obligations, but it cannot maintain even a basic level of service." Beit Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg called the situation "transport chaos," and Alfei Menashe Mayor Shai Rozenzweig declared, "Our patience has run out; a solution must be found immediately. We are not second-class citizens!"

The Ministry of Transport responded that it is actively addressing service deficiencies in Judea, Samaria, and the Jerusalem corridor. They stated that "Tnufa" must present a practical improvement plan, and if it fails to meet requirements, the head of the National Public Transport Authority will initiate a tender for a new operator. The ministry also noted that it has already imposed significant fines and held hearings for "Tnufa" in recent months without substantial improvement, vowing to continue applying sanctions against underperforming carriers.