Member of Knesset Nachman Shai asked Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Friday, to use his authority to prevent a new transportation arrangement for soldiers that is supposed to start on Sunday. Under the arrangement, soldiers will be barred from taking crowded trains during the 6:00-9:00 a.m. Sunday rush hour, although the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Railways are providing alternate bus transportation.
In a letter to Netanyahu, the former IDF spokesman wrote, "It is clearbeyond any doubtthat this is a case of severe harmupon - of all people - "Sunday soldiers", who leave fortheir bases at the start of the weekand returnat the earliestat the weekend and, in many cases, donot [return].You,as a former combat soldier,shouldunderstandthat there is nosavingsmall sumsat the expense ofsoldiersandcause them tolosetime and convenience. It's the leastthat can be done for them.The minority that serve in the IDFand the smallergroupofcombat soldiersneeda reassuring hugand not acoldshoulder tothe Israeli governmentunder your leadership."