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Northern District Commander Shimon Lavi (R) and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai (R) at Mount Meron ahead of the tragedy, April 29, 2021 (Israel Police)
Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai has asked Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit for either a state commission of inquiry into the Mount Meron disaster or some other form of official investigation of the incident last week, during which dozens of people were crushed to death, the Kan public broadcaster reported Wednesday.
There have been increasing demands for a state investigation of the tragedy during Lag B’Omer celebrations last week, in which 45 people including numerous children and teenagers were killed and over 150 were injured.
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May. 5, 2021
Israel s police commissioner asked the attorney general to see to the formation of an external panel, headed by a judge, to examine the incident last week in which 45 people were crushed to death while celebrating the Lag Ba’omer festival at Mount Meron in northern Israel.
Police commissioner Yaakov Shabtai made the request Monday after asking to speak with Avichai Mendelblit ahead of a meeting of police commanders. People close to Shabtai say that he requested an “inquiry committee,” but Mendelblit’s associates say the police chief specified a “state commission of inquiry,” whose powers are much broader.
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Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai (L) and Public Security Minister Minister Amir Ohana at the bonfire lighting celebrations for Lag B Omer, hours before the tragedy, April 30, 2021 (Israel Police)
Public Security Minister Amir Ohana reportedly told Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai to drop a request for a state commission of inquiry into the deadly Meron festival disaster, Channel 13 News reported Monday.
There have been increasing demands for a state probe of the tragedy at Lag B’Omber celebrations last week when 45 people were killed in a crush and over 150 injured.
During a meeting of senior police commanders, Shabtai declared that he would make a formal request to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to set up a state commission of inquiry, the report said.
Seeing Beyond the Colors of Har Meron: Har Meron and Chesbon Nefesh | The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com | Paula R. Stern | 21 Iyyar 5781 – May 3, 2021 jewishpress.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from jewishpress.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Top cop says won t allow scapegoating police for Meron crush
Shabtai backs Northern District chief and his cops, blasts many different bodies whose misconduct led to the tragedy; police minister slams media for trying to drive wedge between police, public
Ahiya Raved |
Published: 05.03.21 , 18:41
Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai on Monday fended off criticism for the Lag BaOmer festival on Mount Meron that ended in a disaster that took 45 lives and pointed an accusing finger at many different bodies for years-long neglect of the site. I won t let Israel Police become anybody s scapegoat for the continued misconduct of many different bodies that eventually blew up in the face of Israel Police which had to contain the event for years, Shabtai said at a police senior command meeting at the Northern District Headquarters in Nazareth.