Lines that have been up to date before the Sabbath departure - will be rejected • In response, the travelers embark on a battle against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Smutrich: "We will fight whoever decided to fight our Sabbath"

• Photo: Golden Dragon

According to the decision of the Minister of Transport, Bezalel Smutrich, on Thursday, a directive was issued to all public transport companies in the country, whereby every bus line that has operated until Saturday evening from 17:30 will be forwarded to 19:00 onwards. Also, during the daylight saving time, certain lines will start operating only after 10pm. The decision is expected to hurt citizens who need canceled lines.

"It was decided to change the schedules to a few lines where there is a minority of passengers," the National Transportation Authority explained. "Moving operating hours from hours when operations are poorer to busier hours is unlikely to hurt passengers, and even provide more service to passengers. The National Transportation Authority operates under the principle of the status quo and implements the policy set by the government."

On the other hand, the "Free Israel" movement claims that this is a general public violation, and this is done because of a desire to set an agenda in which lines will operate and do not harm the Sabbath, regardless of the passenger public. The movement announced that it would work to change the decision by all means at its disposal.

"" Free Israel "launches a public offensive against the people who decided to fight our Shabbat (Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister of Transportation Smutrich; Shad)," declared the Director General of the Movement, Uri Kidder. "We urge all private car owners to join in the important fight for our freedom. What will begin with reducing public transportation on Saturday will end with the closure of museums, shows and restaurants."

Transport Minister Bezalel Smutrich // Photo: Gideon Markovich

Movement officials explained that the minister's decision was a kind of war on the Sabbath lines that began to be initiated by the cities of Gush Dan. On the other hand, officials at the Ministry of Transport say that discussions about not running lines on Shabbat - even when it comes to a few minutes before leaving - have already been held in the Knesset, and most of the lines are not working at this time.

There are dozens of lines across the country that have operated so far before the Sabbath - from Eilat north, from Beer Sheva to Jerusalem, from Ashkelon to Tel Aviv, and also between the big cities and non-Jewish localities. The National Transportation Authority refused to provide the list of lines. Some of the lines serve a public that goes to hospitals, such as Hadassah in Jerusalem, Sheba Tel Hashomer and more.

Minister of Transport Bezalel Smutrich criticized the decision: "Now I understand that we have entered the election campaign, so for all the spinologists who are looking for what to do round, I offer a free round trip plus. Just remember to take a hitchhiker with you, and you will not receive a fine.

"Friends, the National Transportation Authority works professionally and with a hand on the pulse for the citizens of Israel. There is a status quo on the Sabbath and it does not change. The GPO operates daily, hourly, to maximize public transport efficiency. To all religious haters who are looking to produce spins and storms, breathe. There are those who really care about public transport, and there are Orthopedics who are turning it around. "