On video: Documenting the moment when the revelry in Miron turns into a tragedy/photo: The National Center for the Development of the Holy Places
The state commission of inquiry established following the Miron disaster, the largest civilian disaster the country has known, today (Wednesday) submitted its recommendations to the government.
In the tragic disaster, 45 men and children were killed, who were crushed to death during the traditional revelry of the Rashbi on the mountain.
Before the conclusions were published, the families of those killed in the disaster issued a statement, in which they said: "Even then, when we demanded a state commission of inquiry, and even today, we do not demand revenge, or Closing accounts.
We know that the disaster could have been avoided and the demand was, for attention and responsibility, for a systemic change in the entities that were then associated with the disaster."
The scene of the disaster, April 2021/Flash 90, David Cohen
The scene of the disaster, April 2021/Flash 90, David Cohen
The Meron disaster occurred in the early hours of Friday, April 30, 2021, during Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's revelry on the night of the 3rd of the Omer. The disaster, caused by the overcrowding of people at the revelry, crowded into a narrow corridor in the mountain, resulted in the death of 45 men and children who were celebrating at the event. More More than a hundred people were injured at the scene. Following the disaster, the Israeli government declared a national day of mourning two days later.
After the disaster, the new Israeli government, which was established a month and a half later, announced a state commission of inquiry to investigate the incident. The commission was established in June 2021, with retired judge Miriam Naor as its head. Seven months later, Naor passed away, and retired judge Deborah Berliner was appointed in her place.
In November 2021, the committee published interim recommendations. The three main recommendations it made were: appointing a responsible minister, who will be responsible for the revelry, improving infrastructure and removing safety hazards at the revelry site, and finally ways to prevent abnormal crowding during it In August 2022
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the committee issued warning letters to 18 individuals who held key positions at the time of the disaster, including Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Minister of Internal Security Amir Ohana, Minister of Religious Services Yaakov Avitan, Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai, and the commander of the Northern District of the Police, Superintendent Shimon Lavi.
None of them accepted full responsibility for the disaster, except for Levi who announced his retirement following the disaster a month before.
Netanyahu at the scene of the Mount Miron disaster, April 2021/Reuters
At the time, the committee wrote about Netanyahu: "As someone who served as Prime Minister of Israel for over 12 consecutive years during the relevant period, he knew or should have known, that the site of the Rashbi's tomb in Miron has been poorly maintained for years, which could create a risk for the many participants in the annual revelry In Lag B'Omer".
It was also written that Netanyahu "did not act as expected from a prime minister".
The committee also wrote about Ohana that he did not act as expected of the Minister of Internal Security, and that he did not take the seriousness of the dangers on the site with the required seriousness, even when he was exposed to the information concerning it.
Shabtai is alleged to have ignored the dangers at the site, and nevertheless approved the plan drawn up in the North District of the police, to be held in this manner, with a number of visitors that did not match the security arrangements.
It was written about Avitan that he did not fulfill his role as Minister of Religious Services "with regard to the management and regulation of the Rashbi's Tomb site in Miron, and this despite the fact that it is a central issue, of great importance, which is within the area of responsibility of the ministry he headed."
More on the same topic:
Mount Miron disaster
Commission of Inquiry