Yisrael Beitenu MK Demands Public Transport On Shabbat To…….Western Wall

JERUSALEM (VINNews) — In a Knesset hearing on public transport on Shabbat, Yisrael Beitenu MK Yevgeni Sofa asked Deputy Transport Minister Uri Maklev why Israel does not provide public transport to the Kotel Ma’aravi (Western Wall) on Shabbat. Maklev, who was momentarily stunned by the provocative question, responded that “as long as I am in the Transport Ministry, there will not be buses to the Kotel.

Maklev stressed that the Egged bus company, which has repeatedly failed to provide adequate transport to the Kotel, will not be participating in a future tender for public transport to the holy site. “The Kotel Ma’aravi is not a tourist site but rather a place of prayer which every one of us wants to be able to reach. We need to bring there reliable and constantly available public transport,” Maklev said.

The Knesset rejected a proposal for public transport on Shabbat submitted by Meretz faction leader Tamar Zandberg by a majority of 53 to 26. Zandberg attacked Blue and White for reneging on their election promises and added that “it is unthinkable that a Transport Minister should oppose public transport, it is like a health minister opposing hospitals.”