Public Transport Inspector Brutally Assaulted on Bus in Netanya

A public transport inspector from the Extra bus company was violently assaulted on Sunday during a routine ticket check on bus route 60 in Netanya. The attack occurred after she asked a passenger who boarded without paying to validate his fare. Following an argument, the passenger struck her in the head, causing bleeding. The inspector was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and the bus company filed a police complaint.

Extra issued a strong statement following the incident: "There is and can be no justification for violence against public transport workers. We are shocked by the violent assault on the inspector, who was simply doing her job. The identity of the attacker is known to us, and we expect him to turn himself in to the police. At the same time, we expect law enforcement to act decisively to bring the perpetrator to justice and restore security to transit workers."

Public transport employees, including inspectors and drivers, face repeated attacks from passengers and passersby, leaving many fearful of returning to work. Khaled Awaishet, a driver for Beit Shemesh Express who was attacked in August by a passenger demanding to drop off outside a designated stop, shared his harrowing experience. "I explained to the passenger that it was impossible to stop, as I could not risk his life. He forced open the cabin door and punched me in the face. He likely had a metallic object in his hand, as the blow was extremely powerful," he recalled.