Meron Disaster Inquiry Recommends Changes to Prevent Future Mishaps

The State of Israel’s inquiry into the stampede that killed 45 people on Lag Ba’omer in Meron this past year, recommended on Monday that future admissions should be capped in order to prevent overcrowding.  Streamlining the ceremonies was another suggestion that was made.

The panel, headed by a former Supreme Court chief justice, submitted findings designed to help authorities better plan for the next festival at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, on May 18-19.

The material brought before the commission and testimonies heard by it indicate that the maximal number of people that could be safely contained in the area at the same time is approximately 20,000,” the panel said in a 16-page report. That is a huge difference between the approx. 100,000 people who were present last year.

While not recommending a target number, the report said more space can be saved by banning tents and vendors at the site and holding one central fire. It advised against food to “reduce the duration of stay and the danger of falling and slipping on garbage”.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government signaled it would implement the findings.

"The 2022 observances at Meron will be entirely different from the observances held heretofore and will take place according to other safety standards," Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana said in a statement.