Youth Violence Against Bus Drivers Erupts in Jerusalem, Sparks Strike

A wave of violent attacks by teenagers against public transportation drivers occurred Wednesday evening near the central bus station in Jerusalem. A group of youths tampered with the emergency valves of a Superbus line 97, then physically assaulted the driver when he exited to inspect the damage. Later that evening, youths boarded another bus and spat on its driver. These serious incidents prompted an immediate response from the drivers, who halted service on affected routes for approximately two hours and filed official complaints with the Jerusalem Police.

The union representing transport workers, "Koach LaOvdim," strongly condemned the violence, stating, "When drivers' attackers are not punished, is it any wonder that drivers are disrespected in broad daylight in the city center?" The union issued an urgent demand for law enforcement intervention due to the escalating violence against drivers.

Itai Cohen, head of the transportation branch at "Koach LaOvdim," warned of the "tangible danger to human life," noting that drivers in Jerusalem have been attacked "every evening this past week." He declared, "This is a test for the police, those who endanger drivers also endanger passengers. We will not wait for a disaster. Our unionized transport workers have full backing to take organizational steps at our disposal. We will not compromise on their safety or the safety of passengers!"

The incident at the central bus station is part of a broader, ongoing problem of severe violence directed at public transport workers nationwide. Just early Wednesday morning, two Superbus buses were stoned by masked youths in the Beit Hakerem neighborhood of Jerusalem, the fifth such incident there in two months. That attack left a driver injured and required extensive glass repairs. Other recent incidents include stone-throwing at passenger-filled buses in Ashkelon and a violent assault in Modi'in Illit in late August, where a teenager broke through a driver's protective barrier and attacked the driver, leading to the assailant's arrest and extended detention.