Haredi Parties Block Shabbat Public Transport, End Hope for Secular Freedom
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Haredi parties have effectively blocked the resumption of public transportation on Shabbat in Israel, despite promises made by secular parties during the election. MK Yaakov Asher stated that his party aims to maintain the status quo nationwide, preventing Shabbat transport. A recent poll indicated that 74% of Jewish Israelis support some form of Shabbat public transport. The article suggests that political leaders should push for legislation allowing local authorities to offer these services, citing the success of the "Na'im Ba'Shabbat" initiative.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Haredi parties are preventing public transportation from operating on Shabbat in Israel.
- A July 2026 poll showed 74% of Jewish Israelis support public transport on Shabbat.
- MK Yaakov Asher stated Haredi parties aim to maintain the status quo nationwide.
- Previous government canceled about 80 bus routes that operated on Shabbat.
- The "Na'im Ba'Shabbat" initiative currently serves 35,000 people weekly for free.
Hope for the resumption of public transportation on Shabbat in Israel has been dashed due to the inclusion of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties in the governing coalition. While several parties in the "Change Bloc" had pledged during the last election campaign to enable public transport on Saturdays, their current coalition with Haredi factions necessitates a compromise that sacrifices this initiative. Parties like Yisrael Beiteinu and others had supported empowering local authorities to decide on weekend public transport based on community character. Even former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated in an interview that he supported public transport "in any city that wants it," believing each city should determine its own character.
However, the political reality has shifted. MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism declared in an interview that the Haredi parties' responsibility extends beyond just preventing Shabbat transport in their own communities; they aim to maintain the status quo nationwide. This stance contradicts a July 2026 poll commissioned by the "Free Israel" association, which found 74% of Jewish Israelis support some form of public transport on Shabbat.
The article highlights the significant public demand and practical benefits of Shabbat public transport, noting it would aid those who cannot afford private vehicles, are unable or unwilling to drive due to age, health, or choice, and would be a more affordable alternative to taxis or private cars. It also points out that many bus drivers are not Jewish, making their work on Shabbat not a violation of religious law for them. Furthermore, the status quo has already been altered negatively, with the cancellation of approximately 80 bus routes that previously operated on Shabbat under the tenure of former Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Deputy Minister Uri Maklev.
This could expand existing initiatives like "Na'im Ba'Shabbat," a free weekend transport network operated by 13 central municipalities that currently serves about 35,000 people weekly, demonstrating the widespread need and demand for such services, common in Western and regional countries alike.