Police say mass breach of Meron restrictions ‘thwarted,’ only ‘minority’ skirted barriers

Contradicting reports that thousands of Jewish pilgrims have snuck up onto Mount Meron today ahead of Lag B’Omer festivites, police claim that only a “minority” have succeeded in skirting their barriers.

“The entry of thousands of people into the Meron area has so far been prevented, and the arrival of hundreds of buses traveling in violation of the [Home Front Command] guidelines has been thwarted,” police say in a statement.

Hundreds of officers are present in the area to block the entry of revelers to Meron, police say, after authorities decided yesterday to drastically pare down planned annual celebrations at the site near the Lebanon border for Lag B’Omer, which begins tonight, amid war-related safety concerns.

Police further deny news reports claiming masses of revelers have reached the site illegally, claiming they are liable to “mislead the public” and insisting only a “minority” have managed to evade law enforcement.

Over the past 24 hours, mostly Haredi pilgrims have been seen hopping over and crossing through weak points in chain-link fences surrounding the site, despite law enforcement’s efforts to secure the area.

Before police closed the site and roads leading to it yesterday morning, an estimated 20,000 people had already arrived in the town of Meron for the holiday, according to several Hebrew outlets.