Bus driver severely beaten after refusing to let passenger off at unauthorized stop
A bus driver on line 2 in Beit Shemesh was attacked and knocked unconscious by a passenger after refusing to open the doors at an illegal stop. The driver, who was struck with a metal object, is calling for justice as labor representatives demand urgent security reforms.
A bus driver on line 2 of the "Nativ Express" company in Beit Shemesh was attacked and severely beaten by a passenger this Sunday. The incident occurred in the afternoon when the bus reached a roundabout near HaYarden Street. The passenger demanded that the driver open the door to let him off, but the driver refused, explaining that he could not endanger the passenger by stopping in an unauthorized area.
In response, the passenger attacked the driver, punching him until he lost consciousness. The driver, identified as A., recounted the harrowing experience:
"I managed to hear the attacker shouting to his friends 'I attacked him, I attacked him'. It felt to me like a planned event - a reason for pride. These were not normal punches. He had a metal object in his hand. I lost consciousness and only woke up in the ambulance. Who knows if I will wake up next time? I do not intend to let this pass. I will go with them to the end."
Itay Cohen, head of the transport branch at the "Koach LaOvdim" organization, stated following the incident:
"If we do not act, the attacking of public transport workers will not stop until a driver or inspector pays with his life. We do not intend to let this happen. This is exactly what we are fighting for."
According to Cohen, the organization is pushing for fundamental changes in three areas:
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Expanding security units, as it is unacceptable that a city like Beit Shemesh lacks any such presence.
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Installing full protective partitions between passengers and drivers, despite repeated requests.
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Granting public transport workers the status of public servants to ensure that attackers face appropriate legal consequences.
