Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher; Photo credit: Honenu
Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 7:43 Five years ago, an Arab bus driver attacked a Hareidi youth in Modi’in Elit, by spraying pepper spray in his face. The youth is a resident of the city. The driver was tried in criminal proceedings, which ended with his admission to the charges against him, in a conditional agreement. In the agreement, the driver was fined NIS 1,000, and the youth was awarded NIS 1,000 compensation. Recently, Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher filed an NIS 50,000 suit with the Jerusalem Magistrates Court against the driver, on behalf of the youth.
The incident began when the Arab bus driver honked at a private car he thought was blocking his passage. The Hareidi youth, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, told the bus driver that he had room to pass. An argument broke out between them. At this point, the bus driver got out of the bus, approached the car, sprayed the youth in the face with pepper spray at very close range, returned to his bus, and then drove away. The youth experienced a strong burning sensation in his eyes and found it difficult to open them for a prolonged period of time.
In the statement of claim, Attorney Bleicher explains that beyond the physical pain, the claimant felt “a sense of insult and insecurity.” He was “humiliated and terrified when he understood that he had fallen victim to an antisemitic attack.” Attorney Bleicher further noted that the severity of the attack was exacerbated by the element of surprise and the fact that the assailant was a public bus driver who has authority and is entrusted with the safety of his passengers.
Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher reacted to the attack: “An Arab public bus driver abused his status and attacked a Hareidi youth. The motive was purely antisemitic. The victim was sitting passively in a car and did not pose a physical threat to the assailant. The driver got out of his bus and violently pepper sprayed the youth’s face in a humiliating act. It is intolerable for a driver entrusted with the safety of his passengers to turn into a vicious attacker. We expect the victim to be awarded significant compensation that will deter future attackers, and send a clear message that Jewish blood is not cheap.”