Labor party launches free-of-charge Shabbat Bus Project, Shas petitions

Speaking at a conference on Tuesday, Labor head Avi Gabbay stated that the Labor party will work to legalize public transportation in Israel.

By URI BOLLAG
Labor's Shabbat bus (photo credit: Courtesy)
Labor's Shabbat bus
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The Labor party has officially launched the Shabbat Bus Project, bringing public transportation on Shabbat, free of charge, to a different city every week.
Citing the success of public transportation running on Shabbat for the first time in Tiberias last week, the party has announced that it will operate a bus on Shabbat, enabling the secular and traditional public to enjoy public transportation on the day of rest.
"Hundreds of thousands of citizens are unwilling to pay thousands of shekels for taxis or to stay in curfew in homes. The time has come to promote public transportation on Shabbat in Israel," the party's statement said.
Speaking at a conference on Tuesday, Labor head Avi Gabbay stated that the Labor party will work to legalize public transportation in Israel.
"What happened last week in Tiberias will happen in other secular cities. It's social, it's economic and it's right," Labor's Shabbat Bus Project announcement read. "The Labor Party is committed to promoting public transportation on Shabbat."
The first bus will begin operating Friday February 15, in the city of Rishon Letzion.
Reacting to a petition by the ultra-orthodox Shas party to stop the initiative, Labor responded by saying that "Shas will not decide whether there will be public transportation on Shabbat," adding that "this is not a defiance against any population, but a social need."
Gabbay wrote on Twitter that Shas's petition will not stop them and that he is committed to the bus running on this Shabbat and many more buses running after the election.



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