The crash that killed at least 24 Russians on a tour bus in southern Israel on Tuesday was caused by road rage, according to the Transportation Minister.

Shaul Mofaz told reporters at the crash site near the Red Sea resort of Eilat that two bus drivers were arguing over who would cross an army checkpoint first.

“The drivers were bullying each other. There aren't infrastructure problems on the road," Mr Mofaz said. "This accident was the result of the drivers' thuggery. Two bus drivers argued between themselves over who would pass the northern checkpoint on the road."

His claim came as it was revealed that Edward Gelfond, the 39-year-old driver of the bus that plunged into a ravine, had 22 prior traffic convictions, although his licence was valid.

In the deadliest traffic accident in Israel’s history, Mr Gelfond reportedly attempted to overtake the other bus on a steep, winding road.

But he told reporters that "something fell" on him while he was trying to pass the other bus, causing him to lose control.

More than eight people were seriously injured, one critically, according to Israeli media. Many of them were flung out of the bus as it veered off the road, through a safety barrier and tumbled 60 metres down the mountainside.

At least 20 others in the group of about 60 were slightly injured.

The bus was full of Russian tour operators from St Petersburg who had just arrived at the nearby Ovda airport on a pilot trip to Israel.

The Israeli air force dispatched six helicopters to the remote crash site to evacuate the seriously injured; about 30 ambulances also rushed to the scene.

President Shimon Peres spoke with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, on Tuesday night.

“The pain is felt by all of Israel,” Peres said. Although the crash was caused by one person, “we feel as if this tragedy happened to us”.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, on a visit to London, expressed his condolences and said the nation needed to “rethink the driving culture in Israel”.

More than 29,000 people have lost their lives on the roads in Israel – more than the combined death toll from the nation’s seven wars in its 60 years of statehood.

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