(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Israeli transportation ministry says it has launched ‘Palestinian-only buses’ as the Tel Aviv regime continues with its apartheid policies.

The ministry said the bus lines, which were launched on Sunday, would only give service to Palestinian passengers commuting from the West Bank to central Tel Aviv. The buses only stop in Palestinian villages.

Israeli transport authorities claim that Palestinians entering “mixed buses” with Israelis will not be thrown off. However, several bus drivers say Palestinians will be only allowed to travel on the ‘Palestinian-only buses.’

"We are not allowed to refuse service and we will not order anyone to get off the bus, but from what we were told, starting next week, there will be checks at the checkpoint, and Palestinians will be asked to board their own buses,” said an Israeli bus driver.

“It was the result of reports and complaints saying that the buses traveling in the area were overcrowded and rife with tensions between the Jewish and Arab passengers,” Israeli media quoted the transportation ministry as saying in defense of the plan.

Israeli security forces have been put on high alert to counter possible protests by Palestinians in the region over the racist move.

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