Sunday, November 12, 2006

The New Eged Schedule: A sign of the next expulsion

Eged21 of the Eighth Month 5767

Last Sunday, 15 Marheshwan (Nov. 5), the new Eged bus schedule for the Shomron went into effect. Some buses were added; some service was cancelled. But, the main feature of the new schedule was the radical change in bus routes. Buses no longer travel the an unbroken trek from Jerusalem to the northern end of the Shomron, as previously covered by Line 473, ending in Netanyah and Line 474, ending in K'far Sabba. There is still one bus of the new Line 148 which makes the trek from Jerusalem to Immanuel at 6:30am, and Line 465 still connects Jerusalem with Qidumim, Karnei Shomron, and Immanu'el. However, the latter exits Jerusalem to the west, and travels north along the relatively new No. 6 expressway, avoiding the Binyamin Area and the heart of the Shomron entirely.

Bullet Proof Eged BusThe new, Line 148 from Jerusalem to the various towns in the Shomron, such as Shilo, Eli, and Ma'aleh Levona, now ends in Ariel, instead of continuing on to Netanyah or K'far Sabba. Those desiring to arrive in Revava, Yaqir, Immanu'el, Etz Hayim, Einav, Karnei Shomron, and Qidumim must get on another bus, either the new, Line 73 to Netanyah or the new, Line 74 to K'far Sabba. There have already been reports of passengers to Qidumim missing their connecting 73 bus in Ariel by a few minutes, thus causing them an additional 1 1/2 wait.

So, what's the big deal you ask?

While strengthing the University of Yehudah and Shomron, recently upgraded in status from "college," the new bus routes are also in preparation for the the next expulsion of Jews from the Shomron, may God forbid. With a simple snap of the fingers, the new, Line 148 can disappear, cutting Shilo, Eli, Ma'aleh Levona, Rehalim, and K'far Tapu'ah off from public transpotation. A simple change in route along Expressay, No. 6 will facilitate transportation of students from Jerusalem to the university in Ariel, who now appear to make up a substantial percentage of morning passengers on the 148.

Service will then continue north from Ariel via the 73 and 74, which "conveniently" and "coincidentally" travel within that idiotic, so-called security fence. (I call it the Hillul HaShem Fence.)

I predict that the first victim, though, will be the still existing, Line 477 from Jerusalem to Elon Moreh, stopping in Itamar and at Tzometh Tapu'ah. It used to go to Ma'aleh Levonah, but not anymore. This will be the first step, to cut off Elon Moreh, Itamar, Yitzhar, Har Brachah, and then K'far Tapu'ah, preparing for the next round of expulsions, may God forbid.

Service to towns in Binyamin, such as Ofra and Beth-El will continue uninterrupted, until such time the government decides to pull the plug.

This is one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations. The Eged bus company is subsidized by the government. Many of us pay only 50% percent of what the fare is reported to cost. Yet, do due to our "grand discount," our precious, bullet-proof transportation is at the mercy of the government.

Far be it from the YeSh"A (AKA: Pesha or Resha) Council to intervene and continue its bus serivce, which just stopped, even for a price. These collaborators without any mandate from the people, and who receive their budgets from the Office of the Prime Minister (How many of you actually knew that?) can not be expected to compete with their fellow government lackies over at Eged.

I say let's contract with a religious bus service (You may call them "Haredi;" I call them religious). But no doubt, the mamlachtim from Ofra and other towns would make a stink about that, in an attempt to cover up the collaboration with the government in the area of education, as well as transportation. But, that's the topic for another blog entry....

Bye-Bye EgedThe question remains: When we say bye-bye Eged, will it be because we will have found alternative transportation? Or because Eged has left us in the dust.

****************************************

Read more on ths issue from Batya at Me-Ander:

The Public Be Damned!
In Suspense -- The First Day

10 comments:

Batya said...

Here in Shiloh, we have been pushing our "administration" to protest some of the worst of it. It seems like the "administrations" of Tapuach and the "gav hahar" have been remiss, not doing their jobs.
Contact me for more details.

Esser Agaroth said...

B"H Administrations being remiss? That is, of course, a gross understatement.

Batya said...

ppp
provide public pressure

Moshe Maeir said...

seems to me that you are confusing batlanut with conspiracy. there was those who lobbied for improvement and those who didn't...

Anonymous said...

Call me a crazy American, but... Isn't this the perfect opportunity for someone to start a new bus company? Would it take more than renting a couple of vans?

Esser Agaroth said...

B"H Shmilda, I do not think you're crazy. I actually alluded to this idea. There are already alternative bus companies which have routes going in and out Modi'in and Betar Ilit. I wouldn't put it past the Yesha (AKA: Pesha or Resha) Council to try to block such an action.

mazeartist said...

Having taken the "scenic route" between Yerushalayim and Shavei Shomron, I was able to see the site of the Mishkan in Shilo; pass by Maale Levona, where the spices used in the MIshkan were grown; Tapuach junction, where the now-closed road to Shekhem branches off; the prosperous city of Ariel; a number of Arab villages, mountain passes, valleys, hills, holy sites.

Without this important bus route, the public will be isolated from the scenic landscape of Samaria, and possibly less inclined to oppose further withdrawals.

If the state-owned Egged won't restore the bus route, we need to increase the number of private buses serving the region.

Anonymous said...

I'm just wondering if it might be because of security concerns. Either avoidance of areas/routes which are easily targetted or breaking up a long jorney into stages to avoid bringing suicide bombers into Jerusalem. I'm not at all aware of the geography, and are skeptical of the 'coincidences' of the changes to the bus services, but is there another reason possibly?


Aaron
Visit: Bagelblogger

Esser Agaroth said...

B"H Possibly. However, if this were true, there would be more appropriate ways of addressing the security concerns, like getting rid of the Yishma'elim (Arabs).

Unknown said...

Two 477s have already been cut. Getting from Emanuel from other yishuvim is very difficult. Our administration, especially the Moatzah and Bentzi are not remis. They are criminal accomplices. The stop at Eshel HaShomron is cancelled for the 101 to the gav HaHar but not the 86, 186 or 286. The committee of our yishuv has been lulled into thinking that anything good for the college is good for recruiting new members and Ron Nachman thinks that we should be evacuated to Ariel and trampistim are an eyesore. The people agreeing to these decisions are inexperienced, short sighted youngsters who were raised with none of the self sacrifice of their parents. They don't even want to lengthen their trip to class in Ariel by 2 minutes to let people off at Tapuach junction. If they must then to hell with all of the settlements.

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