Bus Driver Attacked in Beit Shemesh Recounts Racist Assault

Khalid Awaishet, a bus driver attacked during his work in Beit Shemesh, described the "frightening incident" in a radio interview on Monday. Awaishet, who was hospitalized with facial and bodily injuries, stated that the assault began when a passenger demanded to exit the bus between designated stops, which is against regulations. When Awaishet refused, citing safety concerns and legal prohibitions, the passenger allegedly opened the driver's door and struck him with an object in his hand, causing him to lose consciousness briefly. Awaishet reported that the passenger then continued to punch him until he lost consciousness again, waking up in an ambulance. He claimed that no one intervened during the attack. Awaishet attributed the incident to a lack of protection for drivers, particularly Arab drivers, and suggested that the perpetrators were "Ben Gvir's soldiers," referencing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. He questioned the level of protection provided by the police and lamented the prevalence of racism against Arab drivers. Awaishet revealed that he and other drivers fear operating in certain areas of Beit Shemesh due to ongoing harassment, including verbal abuse, physical assaults, and obstruction by motorcyclists and cyclists. He noted that many drivers have left their jobs in the city because of these conditions. Awaishet, who is nearly 50 and a grandfather, is currently hospitalized and uncertain about his return to work, emphasizing his desire for the police to address the racism and for such incidents to cease.