Buses are for all

Re: “Israel accused of racial segregation,” March 5.

Your story reported “Israel has been accused of encouraging racial segregation after a new Palestinian-only bus service was launched.”

There are no “Palestinian-only buses.” As Israel Ministry of Transport spokesperson Avner Ovadia said: “The ministry has not issued any instruction or prohibition that prevents Palestinian workers from travelling on public transport in Israel, nor in Judea and Samaria.”

The bus company, Afikim, issued its own statement: “This plan aims to ease travel for Palestinian passengers and offer a solution that counters pirate bus companies that charge exorbitant prices.”

Extra buses have been introduced to ferry Palestinian workers into Israel from Arab neighbourhoods in the West Bank, because Israel has employed more Palestinians. Israeli bus lines previously did not stop in towns controlled by the Palestinian Authority, nor in non-authorized Jewish settlements. These buses are geared for those Palestinians, but Palestinians and Israelis can use any bus service of their choosing.

The last decade has seen a considerable number of Israeli civilians lose their lives to West Bank terrorist bus bombings. Security is always a factor. Were Israelis fearful of travelling with West Bank Palestinians on buses, the explanation would not be found in racism, but in the fear of death.

Leaving facts and context out of the media conversation — and overlooking true apartheid and incitement in Arab countries — helps explain why ignorant accusations of “blatant Israeli racism” are so easily and wrongly parlayed into headlines. Michelle Whiteman,

Westmount, Que. Michelle Whiteman is regional director of Honest Reporting Canada.