Probe into Mt Meron stampede that killed 45 begins

An Israeli government commission investigating a deadly accident at a holy site in April held its first day of hearings on Sunday, almost four months after the stampede at Mount Meron left 45 people dead.

The April 29 incident at the Jewish festival in northern Israel was the deadliest civilian disaster in the country's history.

Around 100,000 worshipers, mostly ultra-Orthodox Jews, attended festivities despite coronavirus regulations limiting outdoor assemblies to 500 people, and in spite of longstanding warnings about the safety of the site.

Hundreds of people bottlenecked in passageway descending the mountain, and the slippery slope caused people to stumble and fall.

The resulting human avalanche killed 45 people and injured at least 150.

In June, the Israeli government approved the formation of an independent state commission of inquiry to investigate safety shortcomings at the Lag Baomer celebrations at Mount Meron.

A panel headed by former Supreme Court justice Miriam Naor began proceedings with the testimony of Northern District police chief Shimon Lavi, the officer who was in charge of managing the event.

Lavi said the Mount Meron festivities are the Israel Police's most significant annual event, requiring extensive resources, planning and preparation.

He said that out of safety concerns "there has been no limitation on attendance at Meron, that's how it has been done for the last 30 years."

Lavi also described the scene as "incomprehensible."

"I arrived at the scene. You could see dozens of people, lying on top of each other. You saw police and soldiers, together with civilians, amazing civilians, evacuating injured people on stretchers." he said.

The site in the Galilee is believed to be the burial place of celebrated 2nd century sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

The tomb complex and adjoining structures is managed by the Religious Services Ministry's department for holy places.

Experts had long warned that the Mount Meron complex was inadequately equipped to handle the enormous crowds that flock there during the springtime holiday, and that existing infrastructure was a safety risk.

But April's gathering went forward this year nonetheless as powerful ultra-Orthodox politicians reportedly pressured then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government officials to lift attendance restrictions.