Train Service in Southern Israel Suspended Over Security Fears

Image by Getty Images

By JTA August 18, 2014

Train services between Ashkelon and Sderot in southern Israel have been halted due to security reasons.

The cessation of services on the train line which runs near the border with Gaza came Sunday night, a day before the end of a five-day ceasefire with terrorists in Gaza. The halt to service on the line, “until further notice,” was announced on Israel Railways website.

The Transportation Ministry will add buses between the two southern Israeli cities in the meantime, according to reports.

The cessation of the train service in southern Israel reportedly was ordered by the Defense Ministry, which also reportedly has ordered the rail service to fortify the line against anti-tank fire from Gaza.

Train service between Ashkelon and Sderot was closed during large portions of the recent conflict in Gaza.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO