Mount Meron disaster

Rabbi Meir Mazuz speaks at a press conference the Yachad political party in Bnei Brak, March 27, 2019. (Yehuda Haim/Flash90)

January 1, 2023, 4:56 am

Top rabbi calls gay Knesset speaker Ohana ‘infected,’ blames him for Meron disaster

Meir Mazuz, affiliated with several senior members of new government, brands Pride parade-goers ‘animals walking on 2 legs’; has previously blamed LGBTQ marches for COVID, terror

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush arrives for coalition talks at Likud headquarters in Tel Aviv on November 10, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

December 5, 2022, 11:16 am

In coalition talks, UTJ said to request full authority at Meron, site of disaster

MK Meir Porush wants control over site, including implementation of findings of investigative panel into 2021 tragedy; he opposed the committee’s formation

By ToI Staff

Former police commissioner Roni Alsheich speaking at a conference at Reichman University, Feb. 13, 2022. (Adi Cohen Tzedek)

October 20, 2022, 5:47 pm

Former top cop says he would have resigned if Meron tragedy happened under his watch

Roni Alsheich also says over two years without permanent commissioner, three years without national budget left police weakened, unable to deal with challenges

By Michael Horovitz

Ultra-Orthodox pilgrims face off with police during Lag B'Omer celebrations, in Meron, on May 19, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)

October 18, 2022, 8:12 pm

Meron disaster probe committee presents initial findings to prime minister

Taskforce calls for various infrastructure changes to site, expansion of celebration to nearby areas; Lapid appoints team to implement recommendations

By ToI Staff

Victims of the April 30, 2021, Mount Meron disaster: Top row (L-R): Chen Doron, Haim Rock, Ariel Tzadik, Yossi Kohn, Yisrael Anakvah, Yishai Mualem, Yosef Mastorov, Elkana Shiloh and Moshe Levy; 2nd row (L-R): Shlomo Zalman Leibowitz, Shmuel Zvi Klagsbald, Mordechai Fakata, Dubi Steinmetz, Abraham Daniel Ambon, Eliezer Gafner, Yosef Greenbaum, Yehuda Leib Rubin and Yaakov Elchanan Starkovsky; 3rd row (L-R): Haim Seler, Yehoshua Englard, Moshe Natan Neta Englard, Yedidia Hayut, Moshe Ben Shalom, David Krauss, Eliezer Tzvi Joseph, Yosef Yehuda Levy and Yosef Amram Tauber; 4th row (L-R): Menachem Knoblowitz, Elazar Yitzchok Koltai, Yosef David Elhadad, Shraga Gestetner, Yonatan Hebroni, Shimon Matalon, Elazar Mordechai Goldberg, Moshe Bergman and Daniel Morris; 5th row (L-R): Ariel Achdut, Moshe Mordechai Elhadad, Hanoch Slod, Yedidya Fogel, Menahem Zakbah, Simcha Diskind, Moshe Tzarfati, Nahman Kirshbaum and Eliyahu Cohen.

August 30, 2022, 9:40 pm

Families say Meron probe findings send ‘clear message’ but don’t address their needs

Attorney representing some of the victims’ relatives the ‘writing was on the wall,’ after probe finds senior officials, including Netanyahu, likely responsible for disaster

By ToI Staff

Then prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the scene of the disaster on Mount Meron, in northern Israel on April 30, 2021. (David Cohen/Flash90)

August 30, 2022, 6:16 pm

Meron inquest finds Netanyahu, top cop Shabtai likely responsible for disaster

Warnings also sent to other top officials, including ex-minister Ohana and former northern police commander Lavi, as panel prepares to release findings on crush that killed 45

By Ash Obel

July 22, 2022, 11:35 pm

Public records, testimony appear to undercut Netanyahu claim of Meron ignorance

Minister earlier indicated that crowding was discussed with PM, along with epidemiological issues in lead up to disastrous pilgrimage; watchdog and others rang alarms for years

By ToI Staff

Opposition leader and former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives to testify before the Meron Disaster Inquiry Committee, in Jerusalem, on July 21, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 21, 2022, 8:12 pm

Bereaved families, rivals tear into Netanyahu for ducking blame over Meron disaster

Lawmakers express disgust after ex-PM says he wasn’t aware of safety concerns at annual Lag B’Omer event before 2021 deadly crush and can’t be responsible for what he doesn’t know

By ToI Staff

Opposition leader former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives to testify before the Meron Disaster Inquiry Committee, in Jerusalem, on July 21, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 21, 2022, 12:30 pm

Testifying at Meron probe, Netanyahu denies responsibility for deadly disaster

Opposition leader, who was PM during 2021 catastrophe that killed 45, tells commision of inquiry he was not involved in planning event beyond concerns due to COVID-19 pandemic

By ToI Staff

Police chief Kobi Shabtai ahead of his testimony before the Meron disaster commission, in Jerusalem, on April 11, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 20, 2022, 8:50 am

Commission set to tell police brass they will be held responsible for Meron disaster

Report says police chief Shabtai and other senior officers will receive warning letters pointing to aspects of their conduct; Shabtai has no intention of resigning

By ToI Staff

Northern District police chief Shimon Lavi seen at the Lag Baomer celebrations, at Mount Meron, May 19, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)

July 18, 2022, 10:15 pm

Northern police chief resigns, taking responsibility for deadly Mt. Meron crush

Year after Israel’s worst civilian disaster killed 45, Shimon Lavi says he waited to quit only to handle urgent challenges; victim’s relative urges commissioner to also ‘go home’

By Michael Horovitz

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Internal Security Minister Amir Ohana (R) visit the site of an overnight fatal crush during a religious gathering at Mt. Meron in northern Israel, on April 30, 2021. (Ronen ZVULUN / POOL / AFP)

June 26, 2022, 4:21 pm

Netanyahu summoned to testify before panel probing deadly Meron crush

Opposition head to be commission’s final witness; if found to bear any responsibility for crush that killed 45, he may get warning letter during upcoming expected election season

By ToI Staff

Israeli rescue forces and police at the scene of the fatal crush during Lag B'Omer celebrations on Mount Meron, in northern Israel, on April 30, 2021. (David Cohen/Flash90)

June 16, 2022, 4:56 pm

A week before deadly Meron crush, officials expressed grave concerns over safety

In new recording, police and rescue officials heard griping over number of attendees, fearing ‘mass casualty event,’ while then-minister Ohana asks them to accommodate more groups

By ToI Staff

An Israel Dog Unit volunteer searching Mount Meron for missing persons. (Courtesy IDU)

May 19, 2022, 10:52 pm

Thousands go to Meron to find themselves spiritually. Three have never come back

The cradle of Jewish mysticism is also where Moishy Klinerman, Moshe Ilowitz and Haviv Ben-Abu were last seen. As Lag B’Omer’s throngs leave, searchers remain to scour the mountain

By Marissa Newman

Ultra-Orthodox Jews scuffle with the police as they try to enter the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai at Mount Meron, during the Lag B'Omer holiday that commemorates the 2nd-century Jewish scholar's death, May 19, 2022. (Menahem KAHANA / AFP)

May 19, 2022, 4:48 pm

‘Extremists’ tear down barriers, clash with cops as Meron pilgrimage ends in chaos

Families arriving for memorial attacked, spit on; violence followed relatively peaceful start to Lag B’Omer event, heavily secured after 45 died in crush last year

By ToI Staff and Judah Ari Gross