Israel enacts, then suspends, plan for West Bank bus segregation

JERUSALEM – Hours after announcing the launch of separate buses for Palestinians and Jews in the West Bank, Israel’s government was forced to back down Wednesday in response to a wave of domestic outrage that included comparisons to apartheid-era South Africa.

Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, whose department created the plan, said he was still determined to enact it after making revisions.

Announced shortly before European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini was set to meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the region, the plan would have effectively barred Palestinians from using Israeli public transportation between the West Bank and Israel. Instead, they would have to use specially designated buses on which they would not mix with Jewish settlers.

The plan would have allowed Palestinians who have permits to enter Israel to board the designated buses only after registering at automated stations at any of four crossings between the West Bank and Israel. They would have had to return through the same crossing, even if it was far from their residence.

Defense authorities cited several reasons for the new policy, particularly the need to tighten security monitoring of Palestinians entering Israel and reduce the risk of illegal entry. In addition to security concerns, authorities conceded that they were responding to complaints from Jewish settlers about riding on buses with Palestinians.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the move was evidence of the “inherent racism” of the Israeli government and urged the international community to take immediate action to salvage the peace process.

Settlers welcomed the plan but fierce condemnation poured in from across Israel’s political spectrum, ultimately leading to the government’s reversal.

“Segregating Palestinians and Jews on public transportation is a gratuitous humiliation and a stain on Israel and its citizens,” opposition leader Isaac Herzog said in a Facebook post. He said the move was “oil to the fire of Israel-hatred” around the world.

He called it a “miserable decision” that had nothing to do with security, and criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allowing it to come to fruition.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who has been a consistent voice for upholding Palestinian rights in Israel, called the idea “unthinkable.”

Israel, he said, must confront terrorism firmly “whilst defending our democratic values as a country and people.”

As rebukes swirled and headlines damning “segregation” and “apartheid” multiplied, Yaalon and Netanyahu decided to suspend the program, which had been described as a pilot.