Transportation Ministry Denies Buses Running on Shabbos

Israel’s Ministry of Transportation has denied charges that buses have been operating on Shabbos, in clear violation of the national status quo regarding Shabbos observance.

While a ministry official maintained that it was a takalah (a foul-up) that had been corrected, it appeared that, on the contrary, the breach has been widening.

The issue was raised some time ago in the Knesset’s Economics Committee, but ministry spokesman Dror Gonen insisted that the problem had already been solved.

According to a report by transportation reporter Aiden Yosef, “hundreds” of buses are finishing their Friday afternoon routes after the permitted time, a half-hour before Shabbos comes in.

Some buses could be seen out on the streets as late as 7:00 p.m., long after dark on Leil Shabbos at this time of year.

Egged was cited for running buses within Yerushalayim after the permitted time, including the No. 1 bus from the Kosel.

Intercity buses were not cited in the report, since the Central Bus Station in Yerushalayim closes before Shabbos arrives, and so they must be there before that.

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the December 9th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.