Palestinians banned from using public transport in West Bank

Israel has prohibited Palestinian workers from using Israeli public bus lines in the West Bank, a media report said Sunday.

The directive was issued by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Xinhua reported citing the Ha'aretz daily.

Under the order, Palestinian workers who travel to their day jobs inside Israel will not be able to ride buses that connect the West Bank with central Israel.

They will instead have to make a detour to Eyal Crossing, far from the most populated areas in the West Bank. The Palestinians have to undergo security checks at the crossings and cannot spend the night inside Israel.

The decision will be effective from next month.

The ban has come amid mounting pressure from Jewish settlers, who have urged Palestinians to not use public transport for safety reasons, the daily said, but added that the Israel Defense Forces do not consider Palestinian travellers a security threat.