MK Menachem Eliezer Mozes appealed to Education Minister Naftali Bennett demanding that he reverse the decision to move the Lag BaOmer holiday to Monday - following the request of Chief Rabbi Grat Lau, in order to prevent desecration of Shabbat.
""As someone who has been handling Meron's affairs for about a decade and a half, I would like to inform you of the danger and mental anguish that may arise as a result of your decision," Moses wrote.
""According to professionals in the Ministry of Transportation, holding school on Sunday, April 18, will result in a shortage of 30% - 40% in the number of buses required to transport the masses in Meron. The severe shortage, which will be manifested mainly in the morning hours, will force many passengers to postpone their trips to the afternoon hours and to concentrate an unprecedented number of passengers in a few hours. This will inevitably cause the collapse of the transportation system and roads.".
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MK Mozes mentions in his letter that in 2014, then-Minister of Education Shai Piron made a similar decision, which caused a dangerous and uncontrollable collapse.
""About 60,000-70,000 people, who arrived in Meron only in the afternoon, due to a shortage of buses in the morning, descended from the mountain at once at dark. Fences were breached, and the public rushed onto the road. The police were forced to bring in troops with cavalry, many were injured, and the commotion was terrible.
""I ask, in every word of request, for the sake of life and the needs of the public - please: reverse your decision and allow Sunday, the 18th of Iyar, as a holiday as originally planned.".
Mozes also contacted Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz and wrote that the move to move the holiday has far-reaching implications for his ministry's assessments of the public transportation system on Lag BaOmer. Mozes quotes Meir Chen, director of the National Public Transportation Authority, according to whom more than 12 million NIS went down the drain - due to a lack of coordination between all government agencies.
MK Mozes demands immediate intervention by the minister to prevent the expected chaos and help restore the situation to normal.
""We are two weeks before Lag BaOmer. Time is short and the work is great. Any change/delay will work to the detriment of the public and prevent the huge event from being a success," Mozes wrote to Minister Katz.
Moses also appealed to the Police Commissioner to influence the Minister of Education: "Mr. Commissioner, please, for the sake of public safety and personal safety, urgently appeal to the Minister of Education to reverse his decision to postpone the vacation.".
""It should be noted that I have been handling Meron's affairs for over a decade. I was the 'nachshon' who came out with the call for the public to use only public transportation. I would be very sorry if this year, due to the shortage of buses, many choose to use their private vehicles. This is a real life-saving measure, and I urgently request your intervention.".
