(haipo) The Union of Transportation Workers' Committees yesterday approached the Projector to establish a bus security unit, Retired Police Chief Doron Turgeman, calling for the expansion of the security unit's activities, which have been operating as a pilot since January 2026, in six cities. The union points to new hotbeds of violence in Afula, the Kiryat Ata and Ashkelon, and demands reinforcements in Jerusalem as well.
Sharp increase in violence in Afula and Kiryat – drivers are exposed without protection
According to the union's request, there has been an increase in stone-throwing incidents in Afula, especially in the Jezreel neighborhood and Givat HaMoreh, where there have been repeated cases of broken bus windows as a result of stone-throwing. A Superbus night bus driver was even hospitalized following this type of injury.
Regarding the settlements, the union notes that although Haifa is one of the cities participating in the pilot, on some lines the security unit's support for exiting the city limits and entering the settlements has been cut off. Drivers and travel inspectors (inspectors) are forced to deal with an increase in stabbings and tear gas spraying by passengers, without an adequate security response.
Power to Workers: "There is no room for compromise on the safety of TAC employees and passengers"
Itai Cohen, Head of the Transportation Branch for Workers, said: "We welcome the activities of the dedicated security unit. In the five months of its operation, it can be seen that the unit can improve personal security on public transportation, in the cities in which it operates. In order to reach the unit's goals, we seek to expand and strengthen the pilot activity. The distress button and rapid response to violent incidents constitute a deterrent to attackers in the cities we mentioned and increase the sense of security. We hope that the Ministry of Transportation will respond quickly to these requests, which are based on evidence from the field.
There is no room for compromise on the security of the TAC employees and passengers." The mounted security unit currently operates in six cities: Jerusalem (three security guards), Haifa, Be'er Sheva, Beit Shemesh, Modi'in Illit and Beitar Illit (two security guards in each).