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Veolia Transportation Israel Stopped Operating the Modi'in Bus Network

Veolia Transportation Israel (Connex Israel) has terminated its operations of the Modi'in bus network, which serve Israeli settlements in the West Bank. However, the company continues to operate bus services that pass through the occupied Palestinian territory.  

Veolia Transportation Israel (Connex Israel) has terminated its operations of the Modi'in bus network, including lines 7, 19, 109 and 110, which serve Israeli settlements in the West Bank and run along the apartheid road 443. However, the company continues to operate regular bus services between Bnei-Brak and Jerusalem, which pass through the occupied Palestinian territories, including the "no man's land" in the Latrun enclave.

On 25 July 2013, Veolia Transportation Israel (Connex Israel) has published a statement on the news section of its official local website (translated from Hebrew by Who Profits):

"Dear Modi'in Residents,

As of Friday, 26 July 2013, Veolia Transportation Company will discontinue its public transportation services in the Modi'in cluster. The operation of the lines will be performed by a different operator. Veolia Company would like to thank all of its passengers for their cooperation during this period, and will continue to serve the general public through its bus lines operating all over the country.

Have a safe and pleasant journey,
Veolia Transportation"

On 28 July 2013, Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut regional council has published an announcement of its own, reading: "As of August 2013, Kavim Company is granted the franchise to operate the bus lines in the City of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut." According to the local Israeli newspaper - Mnews, Kavim Public Transportation has won the tender for the operation of the Modi'in bus network in August 2012, but due to legal procedures taken by another Israeli company (Superbus) against the Israeli ministry of transportation, the replacement between Veolia and Kavim was delayed in a year.

At the same time, Kavim Public transportation has launched an advertising campaign for the new Modi'in bus services in its website.

Nevertheless, Veolia Transportation Israel (Connex Israel) still operates regular bus services, which pass through the occupied West Bank. Since November 2010, Veolia provides bus services between Bnei-Brak and Jerusalem for the Haredim (Ultra-Orthodox) community in Israel. The lines operating in this cluster are 422, 425 and 427, which pass through the occupied Palestinian territories in Mahane Ofer junction, Givat Ze'ev settlement and occupied East Jerusalem.