Haredi Opposition Delays Metropolitan Authorities Reform, Adding 85 Weekly Traffic Minutes

The Metropolitan Authorities Reform, aimed at improving public transportation management in Israel, faces delay due to opposition from Haredi party leaders Aryeh Deri, Moshe Gafni, and Yitzhak Goldknopf. The reform, which was removed from the Knesset agenda just before its second and third readings, proposes establishing professional metropolitan bodies to oversee transportation systems.

Several transportation and environmental organizations, including 15 Minutes, Transportation Today and Tomorrow, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Adam Teva V’Din, Green Course, Greenpeace, Life and Environment, and Streets of Trees, wrote to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and coalition chairman Ofir Katz. They argued that the Haredi public’s fear of the reform is unfounded since the law does not transfer authority over public transportation operation to local authorities but only establishes management bodies. They emphasized that most Haredi citizens rely on public transport daily and would benefit directly from the reform.

The Haredi parties’ main concern is that transferring transportation management to local authorities might lead to public transit operating on Shabbat, which they oppose. However, the law explicitly keeps the authority to run Shabbat services with the Ministry of Transportation. Shas MK Yaakov Margi acknowledged in the Knesset Economics Committee that the reform could be beneficial, noting that government ministries are cumbersome and that local governance could improve efficiency.

Officials involved in drafting the reform say that if approved, it could save each Israeli an average of 85 minutes weekly by reducing traffic congestion through better public transit routes and encouraging drivers to switch from private cars to public transport. The Israeli Climate Forum, founded by the President of Israel, also urged Prime Minister Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Ohana, and coalition chairman Katz to complete the legislation, warning that failure to do so would alienate the public and squander a rare consensus across political lines. Prime Minister Netanyahu had praised the reform’s advancement just last month, highlighting its importance amid a challenging parliamentary session.