Transportation minister Merav Michaeli: Bus stops at 10 Bedouin localities in the Negev

The Minister of Transportation, Merav Michaeli, ordered the addition of bus stops at the entrances to ten Bedouin localities in the Negev, some of which are illegally recognized. Notice of the addition of the stations was sent to the Coalition Labor Party's partner, the RAAM Party.
Two bus stops have recently been set up at the entrance to the new Bedouin settlement, Abda, located on Road 40 north of Mitzpe Ramon. The settlement has recently received official recognition from the state, as part of the coalition agreement with RAAM.
The other stations will be built mostly, at the entrance to unrecognized Bedouin settlements along Highway 80, which connects the Dimona area to the Arad area: al-Prauna, Abu Ghanem, Abu Jawiad, Zarura and Kashkar Nabari. In addition, stations will be established at the entrance to the settlement of Shevat Rahma, on Road 204 between Yeruham and Dimona; At the entrance to al-Sayyid and Lakiya, on Road 31 between Be'er Sheva and Dimona; And at the entrance to the settlement of Abu Karinat, near Be'er Sheva.
"Our government has made history twice," Michaeli said. "Once when it changed a corrupt and destructive regime and a second time when it was built on the first coalition in Israel that includes an Arab party. We bring this history and bring it to the field. I believe that equality in opportunity to move from place to place in Israel is equality. "It is a significant part of the huge correction we are bringing and bringing to Arab society, and it is just the beginning."
Roi Barak, the transportation coordinator at Sikui-Ofok, which has worked for the past six years to solve the public transportation crisis in the Bedouin community in the Negev, congratulated Michaeli on the move, but stressed that there are other unrecognized communities that need to be connected to public transportation. "This is an unprecedented decision. We mapped out the stations and approached the Department of Transportation in 2018 to launch them," he said.
"In 2019, the ministry commissioned an external company to inspect the construction of the stations. The report was submitted more than two years ago, but lay in the Ministry of Transportation. It is only following pressure from the Minister's Office that the report's recommendations are finally being implemented on the ground. "
Barak said that according to a report from the Ministry of Transportation, the cost of setting up each station is NIS 200,000. In each locality, two stations will be built, one in each direction, so this is an investment of about NIS 4 million. Who live in unrecognized localities, are not connected to public transportation and now have to walk a few miles along the side of the road to get to the nearest station.
"For years, until Michaeli arrived at the office, the Ministry of Transportation refused to set up stations for safety reasons. He claimed there was no crossing and the roads were dangerous. We tried to explain to the Ministry of Transportation that even walking on the side of the road is dangerous."