Jerusalem Bus Driver Assaulted by Settlers While Driving to Western Wall

Muathas Kaq, a bus driver in Jerusalem, was violently attacked late Saturday night, resulting in four broken teeth and facial injuries. In an interview on Kan News, Kaq described the incident, saying he was driving route 83 from Maaleh Zeitim to the Western Wall, a route he has served for six years. At a traffic light in Ramat Eshkol, a group of settlers wearing kippahs struck his bus mirror and then assaulted him with a metal or wooden object when he looked out to see what was happening. Despite his injuries and bleeding, Kaq managed to drive away and was quickly assisted by emergency medical services. He expressed shock and confusion over the attack, stating, "I am an older man, everyone loves me. I don’t understand why this happened to me."

The labor rights group Koach LaOvdim reported the attack, noting that Kaq lost consciousness briefly and heard the attackers continue to threaten and curse him afterward. The driver contacted police and was taken for medical treatment. Koach LaOvdim’s transportation sector head, Itay Cohen, condemned the violence against public transport workers and called for increased security measures, urging the bus company to cooperate by providing footage of the assault to the police.

The Jerusalem Police have opened an investigation, collecting evidence and working to identify and prosecute the suspects. The incident highlights ongoing tensions and violence involving settlers in Jerusalem neighborhoods. Kaq emphasized that cameras on the bus and at the intersection should help authorities find the attackers.