School Suspends Student After She Was Attacked on Bus

A 16-year-old student, identified as A, from Beit Shemesh, has been suspended from school following a violent attack by a group of girls on a bus. A's parents were shocked to receive a letter from the school administration announcing her suspension until Thursday and summoning them for a meeting. The letter stated that the suspension was a result of the violence that occurred on Sunday while returning home on a city bus, and that the process was approved by the Ministry of Education's supervision and directives.

A's mother expressed her dismay, stating, "My daughter was almost murdered yesterday, and they are blaming her as if she were the worst criminal. This is a disgrace to the education system that practices victim blaming. They have crushed my daughter even further." She recounted receiving a video call from her daughter's phone, where an older woman answered and A was visible bleeding in the background. The mother vehemently rejected any suggestion that her daughter was involved in a brawl, emphasizing that A is a good child and that the video evidence clearly shows she was the victim.

The family's lawyer, David Dotan, called the school's decision "outrageous," adding that the education system is "adding insult to injury" by suspending the victim instead of providing support. He stated that the system is choosing to shirk responsibility for its own reasons. Dotan vowed to work with the Ministry of Education and the school administration to rectify the situation and ensure the student's safety and well-being.

The incident occurred on a bus after a dispute over a seating spot. Video footage shows a fight in which A sustained a head injury requiring stitches. According to her mother, approximately 20 girls attacked A during the incident. The mother of the main aggressor reportedly attempted to portray A as the instigator, despite the video evidence.