Israel police issued a stark warning on Wednesday, saying that at this stage, they cannot approve the mass Lag BaOmer event at Meron, citing serious safety concerns and delays in preparing the site, i24 News reported on Wednesday.
In a sharply worded letter sent by the Northern District Police to the oversight committee (Va’ad HaChamisha), officials said that under current conditions, they cannot grant the necessary safety and operational approvals required to hold the event.
The core issue is a standstill in critical infrastructure work. According to the police, engineers, contractors, and safety teams have not been granted access to the site, effectively halting preparations.
The required work includes: installation of separation barriers, creation of emergency evacuation routes, establishment of full lighting across the site, creation of fire safety systems, and the deployment of crowd-control and monitoring systems. Without these measures, the police said that they cannot ensure the safety of the tens of thousands of expected visitors, and the event would pose life-threatening risks.
In unusually direct language, police warned the committee that any harm resulting from these deficiencies would fall squarely on their shoulders. They further stressed that even if crowds arrive independently, the area will not be equipped to handle them, potentially creating dangerous chaos.
However, the Va’ad rejected the police claims, saying that the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage is responsible for the delays. The committee director said that the ministry—not the committee—holds full responsibility for organizing the event, and that the Va’ad submitted all the required documentation but has received no response. He added that the committee has not prevented any professionals from accessing the site, placing the blame for the delay on the Jerusalem Ministry.
The police are demanding the immediate removal of bureaucratic and physical obstacles preventing work from proceeding. With Lag BaOmer approaching, each day of delay narrows the already tight timeline—putting the entire event in doubt.
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