Last week the Knesset House Committee revealed an innovative
defense plan for public buses, including a special device and
sensors to detect explosives before the terrorist steps onto
the bus, as well as a "chemical shocker" that would
neutralize the would-be suicide bomber.
Other aspects of the plan call for an armored door for the
driver's compartment and a proposal to mount the sides and
windows of the bus on a chassis designed so the bus would pop
apart in the event of an explosion, thereby reducing the
blast and the damage caused.
Shabtai Azriel, the industrial engineer who prepared the
plan, said that in addition to early detection and
neutralizing the suspect, in the event of an explosion it
would reduce its effect and allow injured passengers to be
extricated more efficiently.
Developing the prototype would cost approximately $1.2
million while the cost of the modifications would come to
$20,000 per bus.
At the committee meeting Dani Shiner, chief security officer
at the Ministry of Transportation, divulged further that
undercover security guards operate in Jerusalem's public
transportation system. He said the turnover rate is high
among security guards in the public transportation system.
Their wages have been raised to NIS 31 per hour, but the
security problem in public transportation has yet to be
solved. He also reported that 5,000 bus drivers underwent a
security training program, while another 5,000 are set to
begin the program, which is costing NIS 1.5 million. He said
40 patrol cars also drive along bus routes.
Police Commander Zeev Valdinger, head of the security
division at the Ministry of Internal Security, said about one-
fourth of all the terror victims were harmed on buses.
Because of their legal status transportation companies are
not subject to police directives. "Before the police brought
the transportation companies to court, there were no security
guards," he said.
Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the low pay
makes it very difficult to recruit security guards for public
transportation. He said his ministry has taken several steps,
including a salary raise, but the response remains low. He
reported that former South Lebanese Army soldiers have joined
the ranks, but more guards and increased funding are still
needed.
MK David Azoulai (Shas) says few people are willing to risk
their lives in exchange for a mere NIS 4,000 per month. He
called for a further raise in pay to bring in good recruits
in sufficient numbers to handle this important task.
