Troops train in north
(IDF)
Hundreds of Israelis called up for the reserves amid the war in the north, were unable to report to their bases because there is no public transportation allowed over the Jewish holidays or the Sabbath. No busses or trains will operate before the late evening hours on Saturday.
Soldiers who have been deployed to the northern and southern fronts and were given a short leave to spend the holiday with their families were also unable to travel home and back.
Many have turned to social media seeking help as the fighting in the north continues. This comes after the Transportation Ministry came under public rebuke in the early days of the war, when reservists were unable to join the fighting in Gaza because of the restrictions by law and the perceived reluctance of Transportation Minister Miri Regev to raise the ire, of ultra-Orthodox partners in the ruling coalition, by permitting busses to run.
The ministry blamed the Defense Ministry for not giving the ministry advanced warning of the needs. In response, officials in the Defense Ministry said providing transportation for soldiers to get to their bases in war and providing flights for Israelis stranded abroad, are under the purview of the Transportation Ministry while the Defense Ministry is occupied with fighting the war and defeating the enemy.
The response eluded to the many Israelis stranded abroad amid flight cancelations while Regev herself, vacationed in Hungary while the war raged on and Israel was under attack from Iran and was able to return while so many others, could not.
Regev has been repeatedly slammed for frequent visits abroad on official business, which included weekend stays.