Afikim (company)
Afikim is an Israel bus company that operates on routes connecting the Gush Dan and Sharon plain regions with the western Samaria region of the West Bank, as well as lines in Ashdod, Yavne, Rosh HaAyin and other locations.
 | |
| Founded | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Service area | Gush Dan Rosh HaAyin Sharon plain Samaria West Bank |
| Service type | bus service |
| Routes | 31 (January 2014) |
History
The company was founded in 2008 and is part of Sela Holdings. It began operating on September 1, 2009.
In March 2013, the company began operating 'Palestinian only' buses and bus lines for Palestinian workers commuting from the West Bank to jobs in Israel, following complaints from Jewish settlers.[1]
Afikim also purchased Connex's activity in Israel in 2013, significantly expanding its operations, and as of November 2014, operated about 145 routes and a fleet of 350 buses, with plans to purchase a further 200 for the Ashdod–Yavne–Tel Aviv sector.[2] In 2015, Afikim won the tender for cluster of Petah Tikva and Rosh HaAyin which includes all intracity service in Petah Tikva and Rosh HaAyin.
On May 6 2016, Afikim started to operate the intracity and intercity services in Rosh HaAyin and line 47 from Giv'at Shmuel to Petah Tikva.
On February 13 2017, Afikim started to operate line 485 from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport.
Ridership by sector
In 2017, each sector had the following annual ridership:[3]
| Sector | Ridership (in millions) |
|---|---|
| Petah Tikva and Rosh HaAyin internal | 21 |
| Ashdod internal | 14.7 |
| Ashdod – Yavne – Tel Aviv | 10 |
| Samaria | 4.9 |
| Jerusalem – Bnei Brak | 3 |
Criticism
Involvement in Israeli settlements
On 12 February 2020, the United Nations published a database of 112 companies helping to further Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied Golan Heights.[4] These settlements are considered illegal under international law.[5] Afikim was listed on the database on account of its "provision of services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements, including transport" in these occupied territories.[6]
References
- ↑ Levinson, Chaim (3 March 2013). "Israel Introduces 'Palestinian Only' Bus Lines, Following Complaints From Jewish Settlers". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ↑ "Afikim Won Ashdod–Yanve–Rehovot Route Tender" (in he). News1. October 30, 2014. http://www.news1.co.il/Archive/001-D-355523-00.html. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
- ↑ (June 2018) תכנית תחרות ענף התחבורה הציבורית באוטובוסים 2030-2018 שנים . Israel Ministry of Transport. Report.
- ↑ "UN rights office issues report on business activities related to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 12 February 2020. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25542. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ↑ "UN Security Council Resolution 2334, 2016 (S/RES/2334(2016))". United Nations Security Council. 23 December 2016. https://undocs.org/S/RES/2334(2016). Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ↑ "Database of all business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank (A/HRC/43/71)". UN OCHA. 12 Feb 2020. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
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