West Bank Settlement Leaders Threaten Legal Action Over Public Transport Failures
The mayor of Ariel, Yair Shitbon, along with other local leaders from the West Bank settlements, announced plans to file an administrative petition against the Israeli Ministry of Transportation. They accuse the ministry of ongoing failures that negatively impact thousands of daily commuters, including residents, soldiers, and students, who face long waits at bus stops due to poor service by the transportation company "Tenufa."
This move follows a sharp letter sent to the Ministry of Transportation by a coalition of settlement leaders from the Shomron region and the Beit Shemesh cluster, stating that the ministry failed to respond within the 14-day deadline regarding the public transport crisis. The leaders declared their intention to pursue legal action to force improvements in the public transportation system serving these communities.
Yair Shitbon emphasized that despite multiple meetings with Transportation Minister Miri Regev and the head of the National Public Transportation Authority, Idan Moalem, the situation continues to deteriorate. He described the struggle as a national fight, highlighting public transport as a vital lifeline for settlement residents and a basic right.
Eliyahu Gafni, head of the Emmanuel council, stressed the severe impact on residents who rely heavily on public transport for commuting to work. He criticized the frequent cancellations and delays, which have become routine and harm residents’ livelihoods and employer relations. Attempts to improve the service through dialogue with the transportation company have so far failed to produce stable results.
The warning letter and planned petition are supported by several settlement leaders, including Shmuel Greenberg (Beit Shemesh), Yossi Dagan (Shomron Regional Council), Yehonatan Kuznitz (Karnei Shomron), Yitzhak Ravitz (Kiryat Yearim), Shay Rosenzweig (Alfei Menashe), Eliyahu Gafni (Emmanuel), and Uziel Vatik (Kedumim). They vow to use all available legal tools to ensure a significant change in the public transportation services for their communities.
