Israeli Transport Minister Ephraim Sneh approved Wednesday a new regulation allowing taxi drivers to ask prospective passengers for identification before entering cabs, reported Haaretz newspaper.
The decision follows a spate of criminal and terrorist attacks on taxi drivers.
Until now taxi drivers have not been allowed to ask for identification, or to refuse to accept a fare, unless the passenger was drunk or raggedly dressed.
Ministry spokesman Avner Ovadia denied the measure targets Arab passengers and said the aim is make potential troublemakers think twice before hailing a taxi – Albawaba.com
