From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Reports: Major transportation reform dropped from Knesset’s agenda amid protest from Haredi parties
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A massive transportation reform has been dropped from the Knesset’s agenda amid protest from ultra-Orthodox parties, Hebrew-language media reports.
According to the Ynet news site, the proposal would have decentralized powers away from the Transportation Ministry and assigned them to local authorities in the central Dan region, and the Jerusalem and Haifa areas.
The move would allow public transportation to be be adapted to the local population, the Ynet news site reports.
Reports say that Haredi lawmakers blocked the law amid concerns that secular localities could use the reform to promote public transportation on Shabbat, and amid legislative efforts by ultra-Orthodox parties to preserve blanket military service exemptions for Haredi men.
The long-awaited legislation had been expected to bring improvements to public transportation, coordinate times between different modes of transportation, increase cycle paths, and make intercity movement easier by public transportation — all with the aim of reducing traffic jams.
Channel 12 reports that Knesset House Committee chairman Likud MK Ofir Katz removed the legislation from the agenda after Haredi parties demanded that legislation to freeze the arrest of ultra-Orthodox men evading military service be passed before any other bills.
The Times of Israel Community.