It would be no exaggeration at all to estimate that easily three quarters 3/4, yes, that many, of the passengers on the 86 from Belinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah, where I had changed from the 87 from Tel Hashomer, were Arabs.
There aren't security checks at the "barrier" in the direction of Ariel, unlike towards Petach Tikvah/Tel Aviv etc. And, unlike the "city line" Hizma "barrier" at the Jerusalem border, security inspectors do enter the buses going towards the shefela, coastal area.
By the time we entered Ariel, the bus was almost totally empty. The only passengers were Jews, and I was one of the maybe two who got off at the last stop by the university.
And just in case you are wondering. I sat in the front seat. There was a Jewish woman who sat next to me until the Rosh Ha'ayin stop. Then an Arab, who was clearly a laborer, about 50 years old sat next to me. We each sat as far apart as possible. That was fine until he fell asleep. I had to nudge him by knocking my bag onto his to wake him up and stay away. And, yes, I'd do the same to any man.
B"H, thank G-d nothing unpleasant happened to me, and I didn't hear of anything while traveling. But as a woman of my age, I'm not a target.
8 comments:
Batya, its not that simple.
Lots of Jews look like Arabs and a few Arabs look like European Jews.
Its not possible to tell people apart.
That said, Arabs riding on Jewish buses know the rules.
It would be a foolish Jew that would ride on an Arab bus.
Norman, these Arabs are the easy ones to distinguish, and there are many reports of harassment by Arabs on the buses.
This is another way they make their presence seem to express "taking over" our country! At least that is how i perceive it.
Interestingly enough, I am less nervous in Jerusalem then I am in Haifa. Even though Haifa has been more peaceful and the Arabs here rarely bother anyone. I've never been to Ariel though, now I may have to go check this out. Adventure time!
Yes for sure
Report back afterwards
This is indeed unnerving. Not sure I get exactly what you're alluding to in your final comment - because you're older? or a woman? - but there's no such thing as "not a target." A person who intends to commit violence will do it, period. They may not look around for the ideal target. Chas v'chalilah, and I certainly hope you're right, but fear you're probably not.
Very true. I travel on Jerusalem lightrail with Arabs and they give me sests.
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