Bus driver stabbed in Ramat Gan: "Murder is closer than ever"

A driver for the bus company Derech Egged, a subsidiary of Egged, was stabbed this evening (Tuesday) during a trip in Ramat Gan. He was attacked while working and was evacuated to the hospital. The bus company updated that the police have opened an investigation and that the driver's condition is stable.

According to data from the Public Transport Drivers Organization of the National Histadrut, in the last month alone, there has been an increase of more than 12% in acts of physical violence against public transport drivers. The organization's chairman, Israel Ganon, stated:

"Again and again we are crying out about the rising violence against drivers. It is time to expand the public transport security unit to the entire country. Unfortunately, the day a driver is murdered is closer than ever."

At the beginning of the month, as recalled, M., a driver for the bus company Superbus, was attacked in Jerusalem as he was about to start a trip on line 2. He began his shift and left the Ramot neighborhood in the city, stopped at a red light at the Eshkol-Ramot junction, and then several young people began hitting the sides of the bus. M. opened the window — and then suffered severe blows that led to a loss of consciousness, the loss of four teeth, and facial injuries. After regaining consciousness, he heard the young people continuing to threaten and curse him. He escaped the junction and contacted the police, and was evacuated for medical treatment.

"I just started my shift, I hear heavy blows on the side of the vehicle," testified the driver M. "I just opened the window and I get hit with massive blows. I was unconscious for maybe two minutes. When I recovered, I felt blood in my mouth. Around me — curses and shouts and faces full of hate. For what? I don't know. I just started my shift. I was scared and passed the junction, but I was probably not fully conscious yet and felt like I was losing control. By luck, I managed to park the bus. I don't want to think about what could have happened if there were passengers on the bus."