What did the Prime Minister ask his security guards when he traveled on the new railway line?

September 17, 2015   

The Prime Minister today (Thursday) once again referred, during the inauguration of the train line between Ashkelon and Beer Sheva, to the escalation in Jerusalem and the stone-throwing attacks that took the life of Alex Lubovitch on Rosh Hashanah night. ""In the State of Israel, people will not throw bottles, shoot at trains, or throw stones as they please. Anyone who does this will pay a very heavy price," Netanyahu said. "This is a policy change, I suggest that you treat it accordingly. When I want something - I get it, and I want to change this situation from end to end.". The event was also attended by Transportation Minister Israel Katz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Israel Railways Hussam Bishara, Israel Railways CEO Boaz Tzafrir, and mayors and councils of the south. Netanyahu took the opportunity to ask his security guards to allow him to travel on the train like any other passenger, so that he could talk to the passengers and enjoy their company.  "יש לי בקשה", אמר נתניהו. "אני רוצה לנסוע עם הנוסעים, זאת אומרת, אני מאוד נהנה מהמפגש עם חבריי, עם שר התחבורה ועם הנהלת הרכבת שעמלה קשות כאן, ועם ראשי הערים שנושאים בנטל ובזכות לפתח את היישובים ואת האזור, אבל אני עומד על כך, ואני מפנה את זה לאנשי האבטחה: תנו לי לעלות לרכבת עם נוסעים. "אני רוצה לראות את הנוסעים, אני רוצה לשמוע אותם, ואני רוצה לנסוע יחד איתם – אני חושב שזה יכול לעבור בשלום, ובמיוחד זה יעבור בשמחה". אנשי האבטחה של ראש הממשלה פחות שמחו לשמוע על הרעיון, והוא נותר בחברת מלוויו. Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation and Intelligence, Israel Katz, agreed this morning with the Minister of Finance, Moshe Kahlon, that train passengers from the Negev will receive a 50% discount on the cost of a ticket to travel anywhere in the country, for the next two years.