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.