Israel launched two Palestinian only bus routes in the West Bank on Monday, a move which has been criticised as racist. (See here)
The Transport Ministry said that the lines would "improve public transport services for Palestinian workers entering Israel" and replace private buses charging "exorbitant prices", adding:
"Furthermore, the Ministry of Transport is not authorised to prevent any passenger from using public transport services."
However rights groups have raised concern that this would allow Israeli police at checkpoints in the West Bank to segregate Palestinian passengers from regular bus lines.
Haaretz, a left-wing daily newspaper, reported that the ministry opened the lines after Jewish settlers complained that Palestinians on the buses were a security risk.
The mayor of the Karnei Shomron settlement, Herzl Ben-Zvi, said that the new lines would "answer the needs of all passengers - Palestinians and settlers".
