Public Transportation in West Bank's Samaria Faces Ongoing Operational Collapse
Public transportation in the Samaria region of the West Bank, operated by the company Tenufa since 2021, has been in a state of prolonged crisis, severely impacting residents' mobility and daily life. Despite high-profile inaugurations by Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including a new train station and bus terminals, the actual service quality has deteriorated significantly. Tenufa, a relatively new company formed by a partnership including veteran Israeli bus companies and foreign investors, has been plagued by internal shareholder disputes and labor conflicts, resulting in poor operational performance.
Residents and local officials, particularly in Ariel and other settlements, report frequent bus cancellations, delays, and the use of inappropriate tourist buses instead of accessible city buses. The company has faced a massive driver turnover and lacks sufficient spare parts, especially for its fleet of Chinese-made Yizdoom buses, many of which have been grounded due to safety issues. Ariel's mayor, Yair Shitbon, criticized the Ministry of Transportation for failing to enforce stricter measures, calling for immediate hearings and partial service reallocation to other operators.
The crisis extends beyond Ariel, affecting other communities like the Haredi settlement of Emmanuel and the settlement of Ali Zahav, where residents depend heavily on public transit. Safety concerns are heightened by the region's security situation, with some buses armored against stone-throwing attacks. A recent Ministry of Transportation inspection led to the immediate grounding of about 20 buses due to safety violations, forcing Tenufa to reduce service by 25% temporarily, further inconveniencing passengers.
Local authorities have repeatedly petitioned the Ministry for intervention, but responses have been limited to generic assurances without substantial improvements. The ongoing failure has sparked calls for transferring public transportation management to local municipalities, a move currently stalled in the Knesset. Tenufa blames the Ministry for not providing promised infrastructure, such as maintenance facilities, which it says hampers its ability to maintain the fleet and deliver reliable service. The company plans to file a major lawsuit against the Ministry over these issues.
The Ministry of Transportation stated it has imposed fines totaling approximately 78 million shekels on Tenufa for service failures and recently summoned the company for a hearing to consider further actions, including transferring routes to other operators. Advocacy groups emphasize the urgent need to reform the public transportation tender system to prioritize service quality and end the prolonged suffering of West Bank commuters.
