Dozens of Arab bus drivers in Jerusalem failed to report for their evening shifts on Monday, following a deadly shooting attack at the city’s Ramot Junction. Some drivers stayed home out of fear of racially motivated violence, while others were unable to reach their lines due to an Israeli security lockdown on West Bank villages connected to the attackers.
“Nearly 60 bus drivers did not show up for their evening shift, most of them were afraid,” said Majed Mabrouk, chairman of the Superbus drivers’ union in Jerusalem with the Koach LaOvdim labor federation. “Even if a driver wants to come to work, he can’t.”
Rising Violence Against Drivers
Jerusalem bus drivers have long faced harassment, but tensions have spiked since October 7. East Jerusalem drivers, in particular, have reported a sharp rise in racially charged violence and verbal abuse.
Mabrouk, who drives lines 74 and 75 through Jerusalem, warned that the atmosphere has become increasingly dangerous:
“Violence against drivers has especially increased since October 7 – both in the number of incidents and in their severity. All we do is provide service to all passengers in Jerusalem.”
The attackers in Monday’s incident opened fire on a Superbus line 62. A technical malfunction had left the bus temporarily stationary, with the driver communicating with dispatch. Almost immediately afterward, false rumors circulated online accusing the driver of collusion with the gunmen.
The Koach LaOvdim drivers’ organization condemned the incitement:
“Unfounded and irresponsible accusations against the driver appeared on social media. We call on the public to act with discretion and refrain from spreading incitement that endangers thousands of dedicated public employees, solely because of their ethnic origin.”
Calls for Protection
For years, Israel’s Ministry of Transportation has pledged to create a special security unit for bus drivers, with a budget of 20 million shekels. Yet despite repeated committee discussions, the plan has not been implemented.
In the meantime, drivers and unions are pushing for urgent protective measures, including bulletproof partitions, onboard security guards, and mandatory de-escalation workshops.
Tamar Ohana, head of the transportation sector at Koach LaOvdim, stressed the importance of protecting workers who serve as a lifeline for Israel’s public:
“Public transportation workers fulfill an important public role – in emergencies and in routine – without being recognized as public employees. A security unit is the need of the hour.”
Industry Response
Superbus, the operator of the line targeted in the shooting, released a statement:
“This is a very difficult day for all of us. We share in the grief of the families who lost their loved ones and wish a speedy recovery to all the injured. Regarding the operation of public transportation, Superbus is working in full cooperation with the Israel Police and the Ministry of Transportation.”
The Israel Bus Drivers’ Union echoed the sense of urgency:
“This is a very serious incident, and without the driver’s resourcefulness, it could have been much worse. For the assailants, buses are a symbol of the government, which is why they target them. The drivers’ union calls on the government to immediately restore security on buses throughout the country. The warning signs have long been clear. Passengers and drivers must not be abandoned.”
👉 This incident underscores a growing crisis at the intersection of security and coexistence. While Arab and Jewish drivers alike continue to keep Israel’s cities running, unchecked fear and violence threaten not just their safety, but the stability of Israel’s public transportation system itself.
Would you like me to add a CJUI editorial note at the end (framing this in terms of CJUI’s mission of Jewish-Christian solidarity and peacebuilding), or should I keep it as a straight report?