Police block roads around Meron ahead of Lag B’Omer as pilgrimage canceled

Amid confusion over wartime restrictions on annual event, access to holy site blocked entirely, with police warning of ‘zero tolerance’ for violent resistance to guidelines

The Israel Police announced Sunday that with security restrictions tightened in the north due to ongoing Hezbollah violations of the shaky ceasefire, the annual Lag B’Omer pilgrimage on Mount Meron was canceled and roads surrounding the area would be shut for several days.

The event generally brings tens of thousands of worshipers to visit Mount Meron for the holiday. Past attempts to restrict access at the site have been met with fierce opposition from some in the ultra-Orthodox population.

Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he had ordered the cancellation of this year’s event, citing safety concerns, though after reported pressure from some ultra-Orthodox rabbis he instructed authorities to allow a “symbolic” event of around 1,500 people. The IDF Home Front Command’s guidelines last week allowed for up to 1,200 people to gather outdoors in the area, and according to Channel 12, Israel Police chief Danny Levy on Thursday authorized granting access to up to 50,000 pilgrims in total across the 11 gathering sites on the mountain.

But after a fresh Home Front Command assessment issued Friday, guidelines now restrict gatherings in the north to up to 200 people, greatly reducing the number of pilgrims allowed to attend the holiday event. According to reports, authorities will now only permit three gatherings to be held in accordance with the new restrictions, bringing the total number of pilgrims allowed at the site to 600.

After the new restrictions were issued, it appeared Sunday that police moved to restrict access to the area entirely, announcing that a number of roads had been closed a day before the holiday begins Monday evening. On Monday morning, an additional number of roads will be shut to prevent people from accessing the site, and will remain closed through Wednesday, police said.

Police clarified that checkpoints set up on roads leading to Meron will not allow entry to anyone who is not authorized and whose ID does not show that they are a resident of the town.

In addition, Border Police forces equipped with advanced surveillance tools and off-road vehicles are being deployed to the forests around the area to prevent attempts to reach the site on foot, police said.

“As part of preparations, police identified serious and extreme online posts calling on the public to equip themselves with offensive gear, pepper spray, and other means to harm police officers,” the police statement read.

“Any attempt to act violently against security forces or disturb public order will be met with a firm response and zero tolerance,” it said.

“The police will not allow extremist elements to turn the holy site into a scene of violence and will act to bring to justice anyone who incites violence or acts against officers carrying out their duties,” the statement added.

The Meron event faces safety challenges even in peacetime, as the extreme density of the typical crowd there creates the danger of people being crushed to death, as happened in 2021 when 45 participants died in Israel’s worst-ever civilian disaster.

Additionally, the Fire and Rescue Service announced last week that it has forbidden the lighting of bonfires outside of approved areas during the holiday, which is often celebrated with large bonfires and outdoor activities.

The ban was put in place for fear of wildfires during the dry summer season. Devastating blazes ravaged the Jerusalem hills in late April and early May last year.