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Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Knesset panel advances temporary bill to regulate wartime Lag B’Omer pilgrimage to Mount Meron
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
The Knesset National Security Committee unanimously votes to advance a temporary measure regulating the celebration of the annual Lag B’Omer pilgrimage at Mount Meron to the Knesset for its second and third readings.
The legislation introduces new safety provisions for the mass holiday gathering amid the ongoing war with Iran and Hezbollah in the north.
Lag B’Omer, which this year takes place May 4, is traditionally marked by large bonfires, with the Mount Meron pilgrimage often drawing tens of thousands of participants.
The bill advanced in the Knesset today does not specify how many people will be allowed to participate this year, but says that the IDF Home Front Command will be authorized to close the site, limit the number of participants, or cancel the event altogether should it be deemed unsafe.
Amid the ongoing war, gatherings nationwide are restricted to 100 people indoors or 50 people outdoors, so long as adequate shelter can be reached in time, according to Home Front Command guidelines.
There will also be places reserved for representatives of the families of 45 Israelis who were trampled to death in 2021 during the Mount Meron festivities.
A state commission of inquiry later determined that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the officials personally responsible for the disaster.
The Times of Israel Community.