Home > Drivers block traffic, protest gas prices
Demos-Actions International Energy
Drivers block traffic, protest gas prices
Heavy traffic jams on major highways as enraged taxi, bus drivers fight to reduce gas rates, diesel oil tax
Roi Mandel
18:59 , 06.19.08
Thousands of professional drivers staged a massive demonstration went on a massive rally Thursday, embarking on their battle against the diesel oil tax the Finance Ministry is collecting from commercial vehicle owners. This protest follows the price-hike in gas prices.
Major traffic flow was en route from the Haifa Port, Jerusalem area and the south towards the central part of the country, while the rally centered on Ayalon Highway, which was closed down from the Halacha interchange through to HaShalom interchange. The rally is expected to last until 6 pm. Meanwhile, hundreds of Eilat’s taxi drivers took to the streets in protest.
The Police Department Traffic Bureau reported that Ayalon Highway was blocked from Gelilot interchange southbound for approx. half an hour and the Halacha interchange is jammed northbound. Tens of taxies drove coming form the north blocked the lanes against the prior agreement with the police. They were asked to move on using only two lanes. During the clearing of traffic, a police officer was hit in the face by one of the taxi drivers. The driver was arrested.
Shai Balanga, a truck driver from the New Port cooperative told Ynet that the truck drivers must unite in order to reduce gas prices: “The problem is that drivers are not unified. Had we adopted the same rules as in Europe and all drivers would go on strike – the country would have handled our problem.”
Another truck driver, Ilan Korvanov, added: “I’m an employed driver and constantly aware of the price hike in gas. My boss cannot afford to raise the salaries as a result. How do you expect me to raise a family? We could have moved to Canada and made a decent living, but we love Israel and want to stay here.”
Transport Board chairman Gabi Ben-Harush said Wednesday, “this is the first time we receive support from the public, a true consumer mutiny. I urge the public to take part in the protest which pertains to the general public..it’s time to wake up.”