07 Jan 2019 | 03:59 AM UTC
Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Egged drivers to strike Jan. 7 after West Bank shooting
Egged bus company drivers plan strike January 7 after bus driver shot and wounded in attack near Beit El (West Bank) January 5; bus transportation disruptions expected in Israel and West Bank
Event
Egged bus company drivers have declared that they will go on strike on Monday, January 7, to protest the perceived apathy of the authorities toward the security of drivers and their passengers. The announcement comes after an Israeli bus driver was wounded in a shooting attack near the Beit El settlement (West Bank) on Saturday, January 5. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a search in the area to find the suspected shooter(s) after the attack.
Bus transportation disruptions are to be expected on Monday along Egged routes throughout Israel, notably including in Netanya and Jerusalem and its environs, and in the West Bank. Further strike actions and related protests are possible over the coming days.
Context
Egged is Israel's largest transit bus company and provides transportation for hundreds of thousands of passengers every day.
Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis are not uncommon in the West Bank and have occurred with increasing frequency in recent weeks.
Advice
Individuals in Israel and the West Bank are advised to monitor developments to the situation, prepare for bus transportation disruptions, and seek alternative modes of transportation.
