Against the backdrop of concerns about the collapse of transportation during the Lag BaOmer celebrations in Meron, an urgent question was raised in the Knesset plenum by the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, MK Uri Maklev, in which he asked the Minister of Public Security, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, for clarifications regarding the police's preparations for the Rashbi celebration.
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""Following the decision to make drastic changes to the transportation system on Lag BaOmer in Meron, there is concern that this move will prevent tens of thousands from reaching Meron," MK Maklev began the query, wondering what will be done so that all public transportation companies can drop off passengers at the entrance gate to Meron.
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""The goal of the decision to prevent private companies from dropping off passengers at Meron is to make many people prefer traveling with 'Egged,' but how will it deal with the congestion that will be created on it - especially when hundreds of buses will have to transport students to school this coming Sunday, Lag BaOmer," Maklev wondered. "The way to ease the congestion is by giving all bus companies the opportunity to drop off passengers at the entrance to Meron and not burden all passengers on one entity.".
The Minister of Public Security responded that he would hold a meeting with the command officers of the Northern District of the police, and would try to promote with them various options to ease the expected burdens.
MK Maklev also raised the police order to completely prevent private vehicles from entering the Meron area, while parking lots in remote locations have not been prepared for those who have no choice but to come to Meron in their private vehicle. To this, the minister responded that he agrees with the need to prepare parking lots for private vehicles and that "we are working intensively to find alternatives.".
""The public feels that the police are interested in significantly reducing the number of immigrants to Meron so that they can deal with the event successfully, while the police should encourage immigration and not prevent it," Maklev concluded.
