Jerusalem Bus Drivers Strike One Hour Over Recent Violent Attack

The Superbus transportation workers' union in Jerusalem has announced a one-hour strike on Wednesday from 14:00 to 15:00 affecting Superbus lines in the Jerusalem cluster, excluding the minibus lines to the Old City which had already struck the previous Sunday. The strike is a protest against the violent assault on a bus driver over the past weekend, where a group of youths attacked the driver on Saturday night, breaking his teeth and causing facial injuries. The union criticized the company management for refusing to allow a temporary halt of bus lines following the serious attack. No suspects have been arrested yet.

The Jerusalem Regional Labor Court rejected Superbus's request for an injunction against the strike but permitted the one-hour protest, recognizing the workers' legitimate right to protest for their safety. Itai Cohen, head of the transportation division at the union, condemned the company's lack of communication with the workers' committee and called for public recognition of public transport workers and harsher penalties for attackers. He also criticized the Ministry of Transportation's response, which involved only three armed security guards.

Superbus expressed regret over the court's decision and the expected disruption to passengers but emphasized that driver and employee safety remains their top priority. The company condemned all violence against its staff and stated that service disruption is not the right solution. They pledged to continue cooperating fully with authorities and urged the Israeli police to intensify efforts to find the attackers and prevent future incidents. The article also references a related incident where ultra-Orthodox individuals attacked an Arab bus driver, breaking four of his teeth.