Chapter 2- City buses

This is the most common form of mass city transit in a country that has virtually no subway systems. There are some differences between cities in the companies operating the busses and fare rates, but in almost all of them the bus lines are numbered and have a set schedule. Make sure to find out which company runs the lines in the city you're planning on visiting- and check their website for information. 

"Dan" buses run in the greater Tel Aviv area

This site gives a lot of information about the diefferent regions:

OTOBUSIM

Line in a crowded stop

Apart from a few exceptions, city buses do not run on Shabbat, so if you're visiting around the weekend always make sure to find out what time the services stop on Friday and when they resume- on Saturday night or on Sunday morning. Bus stations are clearly marked and will have a sign with the numbers of all of the lines stopping at them. Feel free to ask people waiting at the bus stop for help with the line you need- Israelis do it all the time. Many bus stops are well lit, and the buses are clean, air conditioned and safe. Women traveling alone should not hesitate for a minute about using the bus- at any time of day. 

Passenger paying with Rav Kav card

During rush hours, some lines do get extremely crowded, so be ready to waver your right for personal space- a rare term in Israel as it is. As far as payment goes- there is no need to purchase tickets in advance, just get on the bus and pay the driver. Drivers will give you change, but try not to use large bills. For people who use public transportation regularly in Israel a special pass card exists called "Rav Kav". If you are planning on spending an extended period of time in one area of the country (a few weeks or longer), and you intend on using the buses often- consider investing in one of these.