Safed Rabbis Demand Immediate Halt to Public Transport on Shabbat

Dozens of rabbis in Safed have signed a public statement opposing the operation of public transportation lines in the city during Shabbat. They argue that running buses on the Jewish day of rest constitutes a severe violation of the city's traditional Jewish character and the established status quo. The rabbis' declaration, endorsed by community leaders, states that the public bus service on Shabbat is a blatant desecration and calls for a broad public protest to defend the sanctity of the day and the city.

The rabbis urge residents to unite in opposition and demand that authorities and transportation operators immediately cease the Shabbat bus services and restore the previous situation. They emphasize the communal responsibility to preserve Shabbat as it has been observed historically in Safed. The recent weekend saw protests against the Shabbat bus lines, during which several demonstrators were detained.

The controversy centers on three regional bus routes operated by the company "Netiv Express": route 361 to Haifa, route 511 to Kiryat Shmona, and route 367 to Nahariya. These lines begin departing from Safed at 6 p.m., approximately two and a half hours before Shabbat ends, which has sparked the religious community's backlash and calls for immediate action to stop the service.