Latest news with #MiriRegev
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NTA: Tel Aviv metro system faces major delays, won't open before 2040
Since the outbreak of the war, foreign firms have become hesitant to operate in Israel — either due to security concerns for their personnel or fear of public backlash. An internal document from NTA, the government company overseeing mass transit in the Tel Aviv area, confirmed the previous report by Walla that the target date of 2034 for opening the metro is no longer realistic. The ongoing war is deterring foreign companies vital to the project from bidding on tenders in Israel, and recruiting foreign workers has also become increasingly difficult. For more stories from ALL ISRAEL NEWS go to A year and a half after Walla revealed that NTA officials estimate that the Tel Aviv metro won't launch before 2040 — six years later than the official target — the company is now preparing to adopt this revised timeline as its official position. The leaked internal document outlines the implications of formally announcing such a delay. This mirrors a move made last year by NTA's CEO, Itamar Ben Meir, who disclosed a 1–3 year delay for the opening of the Green and Purple light rail lines. Delays in major infrastructure projects are not unusual, but public authorities often avoid acknowledging them until the very last moment. This time, NTA is trying to break that pattern. According to the document, in order to meet the original 2034 goal, tenders worth NIS 67 billion (roughly $18 billion USD) for key infrastructure works — including tunnel and station excavation, depot construction, and above-ground street modifications — would need to be issued by 2027. These infrastructure stages are referred to as Infra 1 and 2. Given the scale and complexity of the work, international collaboration is essential, as has been the case with the light rail projects. But since the outbreak of the war, foreign firms have become hesitant to operate in Israel, either due to security concerns for their personnel or fear of public backlash. Even companies already working on light rail expansions in Israel have pulled out foreign staff for extended periods, leading to delays like those seen in Jerusalem's light rail extensions. The document also warns that an official announcement of the delay could complicate land expropriations required for the metro and provoke political fallout, particularly with Transportation Minister Miri Regev. Ironically, some of the delays can be traced back to Regev herself. As an opposition lawmaker, she worked to block the Metro Law (which was eventually passed two years later), and more recently, she has delayed the establishment and staffing of the Metro Authority. She also pushed to postpone approval of the M1 metro line in the Sharon region and demanded its extension to the West Bank. Postponing the metro's launch to 2040 deals a significant blow to efforts to resolve the severe transportation crisis in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. While the addition of the Green and Purple light rail lines between 2028 and 2030 will finally create a full light rail network in central Israel (alongside the existing Red Line), it will only partially meet demand. That's why the government decided to build a full underground metro system. A congestion charge — expected to cost drivers up to NIS 37 ($10) per day to enter central Tel Aviv by car — is also meant to ease traffic and encourage use of public transportation. However, this too faces opposition from Minister Regev and is progressing mainly due to pressure from the Finance Ministry.
Morocco World
09-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Israeli Government Approves Maritime Transport Deal with Morocco
Doha – The Israeli government approved a bilateral maritime transport agreement with Morocco. The agreement is set to be implemented within 30 days, the Israeli Ministry of Transport and Road Safety announced in a statement on Thursday. Originally signed in Rabat on May 29, 2023, its key purpose is to regulate and promote maritime transport between the two countries based on principles of free and fair competition, freedom of navigation, and cooperation. Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev, who led the approval process, called the agreement 'a significant step in strengthening relations between Israel and Morocco.' According to Regev, 'Opening maritime trade and transport routes between the countries will contribute to the economies of both nations and create new opportunities for cooperation.' 'We are committed to continuing to develop ties between our countries while removing barriers and promoting cooperation in all areas, especially in transportation and ports,' she added. The comprehensive agreement regulates various aspects of maritime transport, including safety protocols, port access procedures, taxation policies, dispute resolution mechanisms, fees, and tariff structures. It enables mutual recognition of vessel documents from both countries and guarantees equal treatment for vessels and shipping companies from Israel and Morocco. Under the terms of the agreement, revenues generated by shipping companies from services provided in the territory of the other country can be used for making payments in that country or for transfer abroad, in accordance with foreign exchange laws and regulations in effect in each nation. The agreement also establishes provisions for mutual assistance to vessels in distress and permits the establishment of shipping enterprise representations in either country. An important component of the deal is the formation of a joint maritime committee that will supervise the implementation of the agreement and address issues related to maritime transport between the two nations. Moshe Ben Zaken, Director General of Israel's Ministry of Transport and Road Safety, stressed that the agreement 'will create business certainty and allow freer movement of goods between the countries.' 'We view this agreement as an important component in developing trade relations and hope to expand cooperation to additional transportation sectors in the future,' he continued Moroccan streets demand ties cut The approval comes during a period of stagnation in relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv, particularly following the events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli genocidal campaign in Gaza. This development also follows a controversial visit by Regev to Morocco in February for the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech. During that visit, delegations from Palestine, Turkey, Jordan, and Ireland walked out in protest during Regev's speech, though representatives from Gulf states, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, remained. Before her February visit, Moroccan activists attempted to block Regev's entry into the country by filing a legal complaint in Rabat, accusing her of 'committing war crimes and genocide.' The Moroccan court rejected the petition, allowing her visit to proceed. The road safety conference, which ran from February 18-20, brought together transport ministers and road safety experts from around the world under the theme 'Commit to Life.' The maritime transport agreement was one of three transport-related agreements signed during Regev's previous visit to Morocco on May 29, 2023. The other agreements included mutual recognition of driving licenses and facilitation of exchanges in road safety and transport innovation. Morocco re-established diplomatic relations with Israel in December 2020. Before the Gaza genocide, Moroccan and Israeli officials had signed dozens of agreements in education, trade, and defense. Bilateral trade between Tel Aviv and Rabat increased by one-third in 2022, with approximately 200,000 Israelis visiting Morocco that year. Nearly 700,000 Israelis are of Moroccan origin, with many maintaining close ties to the country. The Israeli Occupation Forces' (IOF) actions in Gaza have faced public opposition in Morocco, where pro-Palestinian protests have been held almost weekly. These demonstrations have consistently called for cutting diplomatic ties with Israel and ending 'normalization.' Despite scaling back official visits from Israeli officials, Morocco has not suspended diplomatic relations with the Hebrew state. Read also: Israeli Media: Flights Will Not Resume Despite Transport Minister's Morocco Visit
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Israel police close roads, evacuate residents as fires spread near Jerusalem
This is an AI generated representative image Israeli police on Wednesday closed the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and evacuated residents along the route as brushfires broke out again in an area ravaged by blazes a week ago. Communities located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of Jerusalem were evacuated, Israeli media reported, airing images of firefighting teams battling fierce flames. Due to the weather conditions, the Israeli minister responsible for arranging national ceremonies, Miri Regev, announced that the main Independence Day event planned for Wednesday evening in Jerualem was cancelled. High temperatures and strong winds have allowed the fires in wooded areas to spread quickly, prompting evacuations from at least five communities, the police said in a statement. Emergency services provider Magen David Adom said in a statement that "at this stage, there are no reported casualties." "Ambulance teams, intensive care units and immediate response vehicles are providing medical support for firefighting operations ," it added. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees Israel's fire department, said in a statement that he was heading to the affected area, which often sees wildfires at this time of year. When fires broke out in the same area last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called for increased measures to douse the flames and said they must be stopped before reaching Jerusalem, which was eventually the case.
Morocco World
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Israeli Media: Flights Will Not Resume Despite Transport Minister's Morocco Visit
Doha – A senior Israeli security official has dismissed reports about the imminent resumption of direct flights between Israel and Morocco, despite recent announcements following Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev's controversial visit to the North African country. According to Israeli media, while the Israeli Ministry of Transportation proclaimed that flights would resume in April after Ramadan, a high-ranking security source revealed to Mako news that current conditions make this timeline unrealistic. 'We will not take risks regarding the lives of Israelis,' the official claimed, citing what he called 'anti-Israel' demonstrations across Morocco. Israel's National Security Council (NSC) currently classifies Morocco as a medium-threat country, asserting that 'terrorist elements may attempt to target Israelis in Morocco' as a result of Israel's genocide on Gaza. The NSC recommends avoiding non-essential travel to the North African country. This assessment comes despite Morocco upholding a far stronger safety pedigree than Israel itself. While Israel grapples with ongoing security threats, Morocco has maintained an impeccable history of safeguarding its Jewish community and Israeli visitors. In fact, the country has not seen a single terrorist attack since the 2011 Marrakesh bombing — something Israel, with its frequent security incidents, can hardly claim. 'I don't think the Jews here have something to fear' Just earlier this month, hundreds of Jews from around the world, including Israel, safely participated in the Hilloula of Rabbi Isaac Abuhatzeira in Midelt, with the event proceeding without incident. Andre Levy, a Moroccan-Israeli cultural anthropologist and associate professor at Ben-Gurion University currently based in Rabat, articulated a different perspective in an interview with Morocco World News last October. 'I don't think that the Jews here have something to fear,' he stated. 'The Jews here, they have their neighbors, they have their friends, their Muslims, and I don't think that something will happen.' Notwithstanding, the security source clarified that flights cannot resume while Morocco remains under a Level 3 travel warning. 'If the demonstrations and incitement cease, we can consider lowering the travel advisory for the country, but in the current situation, this won't happen,' the official insisted. A controversial visit The blatant inconsistency within the Israeli administration surfaced following Regev's recent visit to Morocco for the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, where she met with her Moroccan counterpart and senior government officials to discuss bilateral transport cooperation. During her visit, several delegations, including those from Palestine, Turkiye Jordan, and Ireland, walked out in protest as she was giving a speech, while Gulf state representatives remained present. The visit itself sparked controversy, with Israeli newspaper Globes disclosing that the trip's costs exceeded half a million shekels ($140,000), including accommodation at luxury hotels with suites priced between €1,200-3,700 per night. Regev's office defended the expenses, contending that Morocco covered the hospitality package. Prior to October 2023, several carriers operated direct flights between the two countries, including Royal Air Maroc, El Al, Israir, and Arkia, connecting Tel Aviv with Marrakech and Casablanca. Israel's transportation ministry projected that Royal Air Maroc might be the first to resume operations, though no specific timeline was provided. The ministry's announcement came amid growing tension, as protesters in Marrakech staged large demonstrations during Regev's visit, with hundreds gathering at a central location, burning and trampling Israeli flags. Demonstrators also voiced criticism against the Jewish community leader in Marrakech, Jackie Kadosh. Historically, Morocco has been a popular destination for Israeli tourists. Before the current suspension, approximately 70,000 Israelis visited Morocco in 2022, with the number for 2023 climbing toward 200,000 before the outbreak of the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Israeli travelers currently seeking to visit Morocco must rely on connecting flights, with options like Aegean Airlines offering routes through Athens starting at $350 round trip. El Al, Israel's national carrier, announced earlier last year that it would not resume its direct flights to Morocco for the now-passed summer 2024 season, attributing the decision to changes in customer demands since October 2023. The airline previously operated around five weekly flights between the two countries following the renewal of diplomatic relations in late 2020. Read also: Israeli Brand Seeks Presence in Morocco Amid Calls to End Ties with Israel
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Empty buses explode in Israel in suspected terror attack
Three empty buses exploded in a suspected terror attack near Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, according to Israeli authorities. Israel has stepped up security after explosive devices planted on the vehicles detonated in quick succession in the cities of Bat Yam and Holon, south of Israel's financial center. No casualties were reported and there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosions. In Bat Yam, two blasts occurred after bombs were placed on buses parked in a depot, authorities said. A third explosion was reported in Holon after an explosive device was planted on a third bus. Meanwhile, an explosive device that did not detonate was discovered on a fourth bus, police said. 'Several suspicious objects were also examined, though police bomb disposal units later determined they were not a threat,' the police said in a statement. 'Police forces and rapid response teams are deployed across Bat Yam and Holon, with bomb disposal experts working to neutralize the explosive devices found. Other buses in the area are currently being searched to rule out any additional threats,' the police added. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered police and the Israel Security Agency 'to increase preventative activity against additional attacks in Israeli cities,' his office said in a statement. Bus and train operations were halted across the country following the reports of explosions. 'All buses, heavy rail trains, and light rail trains must be stopped and inspected, and actions should be taken according to the guidelines of the Shin Bet (security service) and the police,' Minister of Transport and Road Safety Miri Regev said in a statement Thursday. This is a developing story and will be updated.
