Haredi IDF soldiers attacked by Meron revelers on Lag B’Omer

An ultra-Orthodox IDF soldier who went up to Mount Meron was assailed and derided as a “Nazi” by a group of Haredi revelers last night during Lag B’Omer, as thousands defied authorities’ efforts to limit crowds at the northern pilgrimage site.

In a video uploaded to social media, a group of men are seen near the tomb complex as they encircle two armed soldiers in uniform, one of them with a black kippah and sidelocks, while shouting them down.

אברומי לינשה הגיע במדים למירון והותקף באלימות pic.twitter.com/NBjopQtJuH

— הפרגוד (@moshepargod) May 5, 2026

Crowds were also filmed attacking police over the course of the night. In one instance, a group of Haredi men threw plastic chairs and water bottles at several officers in their vicinity.

Last night, thousands of revelers broke through barriers meant to limit crowds at Meron, flouting police’s decision to scale back planned festivities in the area for fear of Hezbollah rocket fire. Despite IDF Home Front Command regulations capping outdoor public gatherings in the area at 200 people and indoor public gatherings at 600 people, the actual number of revelers far exceeded this. By Sunday, some 20,000 people were reported to have already arrived in Meron.

Showing up to the site last night, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir lauded police operating in the area for being “gentle” with those trying to reach Meron, while urging the public to refrain from traveling there.

Magen David Adom paramedics tell Channel 12 that a total of 23 people have been injured at the site over the course of the holiday, including one person who is in moderate condition after being hit in the head. The rest were treated for light injuries.