Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision on Sunday to cancel the mass Lag B’Omer event at Meron and instead hold a symbolic celebration with only 1,500 participants at a time was strongly opposed by UTJ MK Meir Porush and Meron project coordinator Yossi Deitch.
Both of them are expected to resign from their responsibilities in managing the event.
In private conversations obtained by Kikar HaShabbat, Yossi Deitch said that “the decision was a total shock to us. I told the prime minister that there is no logical explanation for why, while no restrictions were imposed on the Druze event with 15,000 people or the Maccabi Haifa game, Meron is treated differently.”
“When the decision was made, there were no restrictions in Meron or in northern Israel, and yet this past Shabbos, over 10,000 came to Meron, and not a single room was empty on the yishuv. There is no justification for restrictions now.”
Deitch added: “You don’t understand what Meron means to the public. In 2024, we saw tens of thousands walking on foot from Tzfas, through orchards and roads, and these were not children, but people in their 80s. You don’t understand the meaning of the place, what Meron is, and what Rebi Shimon means to those people who wait for it all year.”
Netanyahu’s decision was reached after a meeting with senior security and Home Front Command officials and after a meeting of the war cabinet.
Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs announced Netanyahu’s decision, writing: “The background to the decision is concern over a mass-casualty event due to the fragility of the ceasefire with Lebanon, the site’s proximity to the Lebanese border, rocket fire toward the area, and the difficulty of evacuating large numbers of participants in a timely manner.”
A senior official who attended the consultation told Kikar HaShabbat: “This is a matter of life and death. It only takes Hezbollah firing one rocket at Meron, and the siren there could lead to panic and a terrible disaster. Everyone understands that after the horrific Meron tragedy and the heavy price paid, we do not take risks. Public safety comes first, and ונשמרתם מאוד.”
Kol Chai reported that a “capsule” plan is being considered that would allow staggered entry of crowds to Meron on Lag B’Omer over many hours. According to estimates, if 1,500 mispallelim are allowed in each section with hourly turnover, the cumulative number could eventually reach tens of thousands, and potentially approach 100,000 participants over the course of the day.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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11 Responses
These guys sound like such fools. Babies. All you need is one rocket from hezbollah. Imagine a siren going off in the middle of all of that?? Everyone running to shelter? What don’t they get?? Not everything is politics
Why do these atheistic lefty tziyonim allow tens of thousands to march in the immoral gay parades throughout every city. Why are these religious politicians not mentioning how israel has become worse than Sodom.
porush and deitch are absolutely right – there is no reason to value hareidi lives over the druze. the druze fought for the right to be drafted, serve in the idf with distinction, and have no equivalent to the neturei karta or the religious parties. they are loyal citizens, and it’s shameful that they should be valued less than the black hats.
Wow – the blindness of these “Askanim” is staggering.
“Chamira Sakanta mi’Isura” – one is required to be more careful about a Sakana than an Issur. Hezbollah is actively firing missiles, and the defense establishment has now decided to restrict ALL events in the area – after the two noted – to protect lives. Yet these two oiberchachamim think they know better – like they did about crowd control.a few years ago?? If there are larger crowds and so.ething C”V happens, will they be able to say “Yadeinu lo shafchu es hadam hazeh”?
an Israeli Yid
With all due respect, comparing the crowds at Mount Meron to secular soccer matches misses the point entirely. Hezbollah is plainly more motivated to target frum Jews than secular Jews, and certainly more than Druze communities. Just look at how many missiles were directed toward Bnei Brak—despite the fact that very few of the fighter pilots striking Iran are coming from that city.
How about “resign from the coalition” A.K.A. leading to implosion of the current government.
Of-course this Meron Fiasca is only 2nd worse, as any בחור being arrested is the worst!!.
I don’t get the comparison. Soccer and other large stadiums do not have hundreds of thousands of participants, they are specifically designed with enough exits and evacuation routes to handle emergencies and they have underground parking that can be used for shelter in case of an attack R”L
A land that has two sets of laws
I guess it is hard for me to understand why the partying needs to be davka in Meron. Why not have quick shifts so that tens of thousands could daven there and arrange for dancing and parties spread out elsewhere?
The bottom line is all decisions are made in Shamayim, not in government offices.
There’s no mitzvah to go there. Hashem isn’t happier bc you went.