Dozens Killed In Israel As Grandstand Collapses At Jewish Festival

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) – Authorities say they fear dozens have died after a grandstand collapsed at a large gathering to celebrate the Lag B’Omer Jewish festival at Mount Meron.

It was not immediately clear why the grandstand collapsed in the northern Israeli town of Meron. Medics said “dozens were killed” in what they called a stampede. Israeli media reported that as many as at least 44 people have died.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a “heavy disaster”, and said he was praying for the victims.

The annual pilgrimage for the feast of Lag B’Omer is staged in Meron around the reputed tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a second-century Talmudic sage.

About 5,000 police were deployed to secure the event, with the police urging pilgrims to avoid incidents during the feast when bonfires are lit.

Authorities had reportedly authorized 10,000 people to gather at the site of the tomb. But organizers acknowledged that more than 650 busses had been chartered from across the country, bringing 30,000 pilgrims to Meron.

Last year, the event was called off due to COVID-19 restrictions. Officials allowed the event this year following the world’s fastest vaccination campaign.

Since December, more than 50 percent of the nine-million population, or about 80 percent of over-20s, have been fully vaccinated with two shots.

Israel has since late February emerged from its third national lockdown, and the festival was meant as another step towards normalcy. But those efforts were overshadowed Thursday by the grandstand crash. Footage seen by Worthy News and placed on social networking site Twitter showed chaos and people asking for help following the incident.

https://twitter.com/NoaShpigel/status/1387897444474789896

This year Lag B’Omer falls on Friday, with celebrations beginning the night before. Festivities usually spread over two or three days, but celebrations were limited to around 36 hours due to the start of Shabbat on Friday evening, Israeli media reported. Those circumstances were expected to cause increased crowding due to the narrower time slot, warned The Times of Israel newspaper.

There were also tensions ahead of Thursday night’s tragedy as two people were detained in clashes between worshipers and police at the site.

Eyewitnesses told Israeli media that troubles started when police arrived and asked worshipers already present to clear space so they could set up barriers to control the crowds.

When the worshipers refused, a scuffle broke out leading to the detentions, reporters said.

Lag B’Omer is usually celebrated across the country with bonfires and celebrations that continue through the night. However, the most significant event is held at Mount Meron in northern Israel.

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