Minister of Jerusalem and Jewish Tradition, Meir Porush, appeared today (Wednesday) in a discussion in the National Security Committee about preparations for the celebration in Meron - and declared that for the time being he is resigning from his position as minister in charge of the celebration in Meron.
Porush noted that upon the formation of the government, it was determined that a minister from United Torah Judaism would serve as the minister responsible for the lighting events at Meron, and for the rest of the year, the ongoing management of the site is in the hands of the Center for Holy Places.
""It turned out that the event producer, who also managed the event last year, is not subordinate to our ministry, but rather subordinate to the Center for Holy Places in the Ministry of Religious Affairs. In this situation, where I am responsible for the event without the authority, I informed the government in a letter that my resignation is valid and effective. If I do not have the authority, I am not the responsible minister.".
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Miron's project manager, Yossi Deitch, said in a committee hearing: "If this doesn't work out in the next 24 hours, I will recommend that the minister withdraw his hand. If they drag us now, I will tell the minister that I cannot continue.".
According to Deitch, this is the most complicated event in the State of Israel with the shadow of disaster hanging over it. According to him, there are many sponsors and it is very difficult to take responsibility when the event leadership has no authority. "I held over 100 meetings and saw that there was a great willingness to help and assist. Last year, the event was safe, but the joy was missing. If we put our egos aside and work together, then the best will come out. I have every hope that the Prime Minister and other bodies will enter the picture at the end of the day. Let us work to make the event a success.".
The chairman of the committee, MK Fogel, said, "This is the largest civil event in Israel. About two years ago, a terrible disaster occurred where 45 people were killed and over 150 were injured, and this must not happen again. Last year's event passed relatively quietly, but that does not prevent us from preparing for the event and getting through it in the best possible way.".
MK Israel Eichler: "I am anxious about what will happen on Lag BaOmer and I hope that afterwards we can sit down and talk about its success. The event must pass peacefully and I support my friend Rabbi Minister Meir Porush. I tell the police not to prevent them from arriving and not to direct them to one path, the crowd must be dispersed throughout the mountain. I see now that from the beginning there has been a question about who will reign? There must be one authority, which will be in the hands of the minister and the project manager.".
Chief of Staff Shmuel Piamenta, Israel Police, said that two months before the event there was no outline and nothing operational had been decided, when compared to previous years, during this period the forces were already on the ground preparing for the event. "The responsibility of the project manager and the minister should be for all events, not just for the lighting. Last year there were very serious problems when we submitted demands to the producer and everyone shifted responsibility to each other. I hope that this time there will be one party from which we can receive answers and a response. In addition, the legal basis on which we operate in these events has not yet been settled. There are fundamental gaps and there must be a regulation by one exclusive party.".
The committee chairman, MK Fogel, said at the end of the discussion: "We are running out of time and we will do everything to make the event happen and be successful. But we will not take risks with human lives. We will hold a tour and a follow-up meeting. I do not want to reach a recommendation that the event should not be held.".
Yesterday, the minister informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he was resigning from his position as the minister in charge of the Rashbi celebration in Meron for 2013, following the division of powers over the production of the event, attempts to thwart the project, according to him, and a lack of responsiveness to the urgent needs ahead of the upcoming celebration.
This is a power struggle with the 'Center for Holy Places' and the Shas Ministry of Religious Services, which, he says, are taking on unlawful powers.
