From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 14, 2024
IDF orders cancellation of religious event on Mount Meron over fears of Hezbollah attack
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The IDF Home Front Command has ordered the cancellation of a planned memorial event next week on Mount Meron, due to fears of Hezbollah rocket and missile attacks.
Some 30,000 people had been expected to participate in the event on Sunday and Monday, commemorating the anniversary of the birth and death of the biblical prophet Moses.
The military says the event is canceled “per the assessment of the situation in the IDF, and in coordination with the other relevant bodies.”
Hezbollah has attacked Mount Meron, which is located some eight kilometers (5 miles) from the Lebanon border, several times amid the ongoing war, launching large barrages of rockets at the mountain, as well as missiles at a military base that sits atop it.
The commander of the Home Front Command, Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, requests that police enforce the ban and prevent crowds from reaching the site.
The Times of Israel Community.