For the sake of the Orthodox: Israel cancels hundreds of bus routes

Israel's Ministry of Transport is temporarily canceling hundreds of bus routes and reducing service frequency on several lines from July 29 to August 14, redirecting resources to routes connecting ultra-Orthodox areas with vacation spots during yeshiva break. Critics call it a national-scale mistake.

Israel's Ministry of Transport has introduced temporary directives from July 29, canceling hundreds of bus routes and reducing service frequency on many lines. The directive is in effect until August 14, the period of yeshiva break. Every year at this time, schedules are changed to redirect buses to lines connecting ultra-Orthodox residential areas with popular Orthodox vacation spots: Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Tzfat, Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee, Mount Meron, Superland Park, and gender-segregated beaches in Ashkelon. The measures are implemented without adding extra buses or drivers—by reallocating resources. Service intensity has been reduced to Tel Aviv from Rosh HaAyin, Kafr Qasim, and Kiryat Ono. The National Public Transport Authority claims that demand on these routes drops sharply in late July–early August. Sivan Shmuelovich, director of the organization "15 Dakot," called the cancellation of routes that bring people to work for vacation breaks "a national-scale mistake." The Authority stated that the adjustments are carefully considered and aimed at efficient resource use.