Rivlin lauds decision to cancel Palestinian transportation edict

Pilot program would have led to incomprehensible segregation among Jews and Arabs, president says.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
President Reuven Rivlin. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
President Reuven Rivlin.
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
President Reuven Rivlin lauded Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to suspend a controversial pilot program, which in its execution, would have prevented Palestinian workers from traveling home on Israeli buses in the West Bank after working in Israel.
"This morning I spoke with the defense minister [Moshe Ya'alon] and told him that I welcomed the decision to suspend the edict that could have led to an incomprehensible segregation among Jews and Arabs on bus lines," Rivlin said in a statement. 
"As someone who loves the land of Israel, I can say that I regret the chilling voices that were heard this morning of those that supported the 'segregation' among Jews and Arabs, justifications for which are inappropriate to be spoken of or heard," the president added. 
Rivlin said such remarks, like those arguing that it was impossible to have both a Jewish and democratic state, are contrary to Israel's basic principles, harm the state, and cause great damage to the settlement of our land.