A flurry of complaints from Israeli settlers has led to the introduction of a new “Arabs only” set of bus lines, which is designed to keep settlers from having to ride on the same buses with Palestinians, and to keep Palestinians from being on buses that might enter settlements.
The Transportation Ministry denied that the plans amounted to segregation, insisting that Palestinians would still be allowed to use either the old or new bus lines. Drivers on the old route, however, say they have been told not to admit Arab passengers starting Monday, when the new routes go into effect.
Settlers have complained that allowing Palestinians on buses that enter settlements was a “security risk,” even though there don’t appear to have been any incidents resulting from the long-standing practice. Israeli troops have also repeatedly boarded the mixed race buses and expelled all Arab passengers on the pretext of national security, though the Transportation Ministry insists they have no idea why.
The new “Arab only” bus routes are also supposed to theoretically allow settler passengers, though the Transportation Ministry was careful to only announce the new routes in Palestinian villages, and only with flyers admonishing them to stop using the existing routes.
Bus drivers assigned to the new routes have reportedly expressed concern about driving “Palestinian only” buses, saying that they fear the new routes could create a new series of problems, potentially being targeted by settlers and security forces as a convenient place to find a lot of Palestinians clustered together outside of their villages.
"… denied that the plans amounted to segregation…"
Just because the Transportation Ministry says it isn't so doesn't make it so. Of course, everything the Israeli government says is always the truth, dontcha know.
Can anyone say "Rosa Parks"? Segregated bus lines have been illegal in the USA since about 1964, when is our "best Ally" in the mid east going to catch on. How was apartheid wrong in South Africa, but its okay in Israel? We should take all US aid to Israel and give it to the Palestinians. In the USA some how we are bad if we call Israelis "Jews" or "Zionists", but Shin Ben can beat Palestinian or Arab prisoners to death and that's OKAY?
Another proof that Israel is a racist country with an apartheid regime at work..
They have learned by example from america how they treated african americans and still do to this day.
It is called the Rosa Parks Line.
Not happy with segregation on the bus, the Israelies now demand seperate Buses! Just keep it up the world will see just how biggotted and racist Israel really is, shortly we will see Israel face the sanctions it has been happy to put on the Palestinians, and it will be the Israelies own fault!
Desmond Tutu was correct even South Aftica didnt go that far!