Charges have been dropped against two reservist Border Police officers who shoved elderly Haredi worshipers at Mount Meron during Lag B’Omer last year, according to an i24News report.
A police disciplinary court canceled the case on a technicality after the prosecution dragged its feet in filing charges against the reservist officers. It further reasoned that punishing them would hamper motivation for reservists in the Border Police, the outlet says.
The northern holy site had been closed to visitors on Lag B’Omer in 2024, for fear of missile attacks from Hezbollah. Hundreds of Haredi Jews nevertheless attempted to ascend the mountain, and clashes soon broke out between them and law enforcement.
Border Police officers were filmed responding to the crowds with force. In one video, an officer was seen throwing an elderly man to the ground, leaving him motionless. A later photo purports to show the man bloodied and receiving medical attention. Another video showed a female Border Police officer pushing an elderly woman several times, though she did not fall.
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