Home » Israel, massacre at the religious gathering: 44 dead and 150 wounded

Israel, massacre at the religious gathering: 44 dead and 150 wounded

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Massacre at a mass religious gathering in Israel: 44 dead and 150 wounded. According to the first reconstructions, a very crowded grandstand collapsed during the happening on Mount Meron, in Galilee. Subsequent surveys report that a general flight caused the tragedy. Dozens of ambulances immediately tried to reach the wounded, making their way through a crowd of Orthodox Jews estimated at almost 100,000 people, who flocked to the Jewish anniversary of Lag ba-Omer. Military helicopters also participated in the rescue. According to the first information reported by the military radio, there are several dozen seriously injured. A state of emergency was proclaimed by the nearby hospital of Safed, in Galilee.

Netanyahu disputed. Independent investigation into the incident

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who declared national mourning for Sunday – arrived on Mount Meron and was challenged by the faithful who remained at the site of the tragedy. This was reported by the Times of Israel, according to which slogans were chanted against the Israeli prime minister. Netanyahu made the visit together with the Minister of Public Security Amir Ohana who oversees the Israeli police and who asked for an independent investigation into the incident. “A terrible disaster occurred last night. It is clear that an independent investigation will be needed on all aspects of event planning, preparations, responsibilities, infrastructure, ”Ohana said.

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The Lag ba-Omer festival

As every year on the occasion of the Jewish holiday commemorating the Jewish rebellion of 132 AD against the Roman legions, on Thursday 29 April over 100 thousand observant Jews went to Mount Meron to pray at the tomb of Shimon Ber Yochai, a famous rabbi of the second century AD According to tradition, he is the author of the mystical text of Zohar (“The splendor”). This event has been the busiest in Israel for years, sometimes drawing up to half a million people. Last year, due to the coronavirus, it was canceled. This year, with the improvement of the health situation, it was authorized, but with numerous limitations which, however, did not withstand the pressure of the immense crowd. Another disaster had also occurred on Mount Meron in 1911. Then dozens of people died in the collapse of a building near the rabbi’s tomb.

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Palestine, elections postponed. Hamas: “This is the coup”

Meanwhile, the political situation in Palestine remains incandescent. The president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Mahmoud Abbas announced the postponement of the first elections that should have taken place in the Territories in 15 years, citing a lack of agreement with the Israeli authorities for the vote in East Jerusalem. Immediate reaction of the Palestinian Islamic movement of Hamas, which from the Gaza Strip spoke of a “coup”. At the end of a meeting with the leadership of al-Fatah in Ramallah, Abbas spoke of postponement without indicating a new date, but merely stating that he will not go to the polls until Israel allows elections to be held in East Jerusalem. “We have decided to postpone the parliamentary elections until we have the guarantee of the participation of the people of Jerusalem,” Abbas said in a statement. “Elections must be held in all Palestinian Territories, including Jerusalem,” he added. The PNA president then assured that he will work to form a Palestinian national unity government that “will respect international resolutions and strengthen the PLO”, the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine.

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