Ms. Noa Kanteman, 22, a student, tells her story, how she was harassed on a bus. Chareidi passengers ordered her to the rear of the bus because her presence in the front was offensive to them. Ms. Kanteman adds that she herself is Shomer Shabbos.

The incident occurred on a 985 bus traveling from Tzfas to Ashdod and she sat in the front of the bus. She explained that when she boarded, the seats by the door were vacant, so she sat down. After a number of chareidim boarded she was asked to relocate, to sit in the rear. She explains that she did not agree to accommodate their request and then things began heating up. She explains at one point, many of the men began shouting at her. She feels the bus driver did not do enough to protect her against them. The Times of Israel reports one of the men who harassed her sat on the steps adjacent to the driver, so he could not claim that he was unaware of what was taking place.

Noa adds that one of the men then began reciting Tefillas HaDerech in “a very loud voice”, explaining there is a “tuma in the bus”. When the driver was approached, he told them she is not compelled to move and they might wish to concentrate on their davening and leave the woman alone.

As the bus continued traveling an elderly chareidi man approached her as she describes the events, instructing her to adhere to the request of the others. “You must listen to me for I am older than you and your grandmother was pure” she quotes him as saying.

Noa feels that by this point she felt threatened, deciding to phone her sister, asking her to phone police in Ashdod, which she did.

The bus stopped for a scheduled break at Megiddo Junction, and after she got back on the bus she found a note on her seat instructing her to move to the rear “towards assisting kedusha”.

Noa asked “Who wrote the note?” no one responded and she shouted “I am going to file a complaint with police for sexual harassment”. She says they responded “Call the police and a graphologist too.”

When the bus arrived in Ashdod police were waiting. They recorded Noa’s personal information and began questioning passengers. The person suspected of writing the note told police “All I did is write a note.”

Minister of Culture & Sport Limor Livnat spoke with Ms. Kanteman. She emphasized with her and expressed outrage over the actions of the bus passengers.

The suspect appears to be an 18-year-old Gerrer Chossid who learns in a yeshiva in Chatzor. He told police that at no time was he rude or harass anyone, but simply asked the female if she would move to the rear of the bus. A number of MKs have come out in Noa’s defense, expressing outrage and disgust over the incident.

Egged explains drivers try not to get involved; adding one may not compel separate seating according to law, but it is fine is passengers wish to comply. In the event of a dispute, drivers are instructed to notify police. Egged apologies for this unfortunate incident.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)