Afikim (company)

Afikim (Hebrew: אפיקים, lit. routes) 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.

Afikim
Mercedes OC500 bodied Man Barak 21 at the Ariel bus terminal
Founded2008
Service areaGush Dan
Rosh HaAyin
Sharon plain
Samaria
West Bank
Service typebus service
Routes31 (January 2014)
Annual ridership53,600,000[1]

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.[2]

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.[3] 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:[1]

SectorRidership (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
See also: List of companies operating in West Bank 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]

See also

References
  1. תכנית תחרות ענף התחבורה הציבורית באוטובוסים 2030-2018 שנים [Competition Plan for Bus Public Transportation for Years 2018–2030] (PDF) (Report) (in Hebrew). Israel Ministry of Transport. June 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  2. Levinson, Chaim (3 March 2013). "Israel Introduces 'Palestinian Only' Bus Lines, Following Complaints From Jewish Settlers". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  3. "Afikim Won Ashdod–Yanve–Rehovot Route Tender". News1 (in Hebrew). October 30, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  4. "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. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  5. "UN Security Council Resolution 2334, 2016 (S/RES/2334(2016))". United Nations Security Council. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  6. "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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