Gimme My Bus!

December 6, 2006 - 9:48 PM by Allison

The British government and the Israeli government are having a diplomatic quarrel over – of all things – an old bus.

The bus in question dates back to the 1930′s and was purchased brought to Israel in the framework of an Israeli Navy acquisition deal with the British Navy. The bus features original exhibits entwined with the stories of the Haapala (illegal immigration into Palestine during 1934-1948) and the Israel’s maritime missions at the Museum of Navy and Haapala in Haifa, managed by the Defense Ministry’s Museum Unit.

Recently, Israel’s Ambassador to London Zvi Hefetz received a request from a British parliament member asking for it back for a new museum in Great Britain documenting the history of British transport, and it is therefore requesting the return of the bus.

What’s so special about it? It’s not just any bus. “The bus was equipped with various systems that were used for training against submarines,” the Defense Ministry told Ynet.

As to whether we’re going to be polite and give it back to the Brits, the official answer is “No way, buddy.”

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