Teens held for systematic attacks on Arab bus drivers

Sixteen Jewish teenagers were detained by police Saturday night after a sting operation following complaints of regular attacks on Arab bus drivers in central Israel.

Police began to investigate the incidents after receiving four separate reports of harassment and violent attacks on Arab drivers on Egged’s route 79 between Petah Tikva and the town of Elad, Israeli news site Ynet reported.

According to police, the group of teenagers would regularly ride the bus to the Petah Tikva mall from their homes in Elad, and, if an Arab bus driver was on duty, they would vandalize the bus, shout racist insults, refuse to pay the fare, and attack the driver.

The suspects, aged 15-17, would shout “Arabs are killers” and “Arabs are terrorists” at the bus drivers regularly, officials said.

Police stationed undercover officers to investigate the incidents, and detained the 16 teenage boys after witnessing the attacks late Saturday night.

Several of the suspects were released to house arrest after being questioned, while others remained in police custody overnight.

According to Ynet, some of the suspects are associated with the extremist anti-assimilation organization Lehava. The organization works to prevent intermarriage and coexistence between Jews and members of other religions in Israel.

Lehava is known for holding rowdy protests and its members have been implicated in numerous hate crimes against Arabs.

Earlier this month, several Lehava members were arrested in connection with a November arson attack at a Hebrew-Arabic bilingual school.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon is reportedly working to have the group banned and classified as a terror organization.