A disturbing incident that took place Wednesday on a bus going from Jerusalem to Beitar Illit between ultra-Orthodox passengers and the driver has resulted in harsh condemnations and led to the suspension of the driver.
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In a video shared on social media, the driver of the Kavim bus operator was caught on camera verbally abusing the passengers, even threatening them with physical confrontation.
The driver's union claimed that the clash erupted after passengers refused to heed his repeated requests to put on masks and after they had allegedly asked him to stop the vehicle at points not designated as bus stops.
According to some of the passengers, the driver has been rude toward riders before.
"I ride with you every week and you do not behave nicely," one woman was recorded telling the driver. "Why do you treat us like this? If you don't want to work with Haredim, then don't."
The Kikar Hashabat Haredi news portal interviewed one of the passengers, who claimed the driver also said he would "rather work with Hezbollah than with Haredim," and called the ultra-Orthodox passengers "worthless" and "trash." He also said it was too bad they had not "all died in Meron," referring to the deadly Lag B'Omer stampede in April that claimed the lives of 45 Haredim.
Kavim condemned the incident and summoned the driver for a hearing.
"We are deeply sorry for the driver's conduct. We will not tolerate such behavior on behalf of our drivers and workers and will do our utmost to prevent such incidents in the future. The driver has been suspended pending a pre-termination hearing."
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