• Approximately 5,000 police and soldiers will be deployed on all traffic routes leading to Meron in perimeter security circles.
• This year, the parking lots and the pedestrian paths leading to them will continue to be marked in different colors: red, yellow, blue and green.
• Access to the celebration area and its vicinity by private vehicles will not be permitted throughout the main phase of the event.
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• The police will provide ongoing and vital information to the public, before, during, and after the event, at the public information center, which is numbered 110.
The Israel Police have completed their preparations for the Rashbi celebration in Meron, which will begin this evening (Wednesday) and continue deep into Friday night.
In addition to the Israel Police, emergency and rescue bodies of the Ministry of Public Security are taking part in the preparations for the event: MDA, Fire and Rescue - and additional bodies: Ezer M'Zion, Home Front Command, ZAKA and more.
The coordination of the event with the public and the police is done through the 'Center for Holy Places' of the Ministry of Religious Services, and government ministries and other bodies are involved.
The celebration of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Lag BaOmer is the largest religious event of its kind in the State of Israel, and during the week of Lag BaOmer, hundreds of thousands of people visit the Rashbi's tomb.
The police attach the utmost importance to its operational preparedness, and within this framework, thousands of police officers and Border Guard soldiers will take part in the operation and all technological means available to the Israel Police will be activated - all with the aim of maintaining order and ensuring the safety of visitors to the event.
The operation during the days of celebration - from Wednesday to Thursday in the late evening hours - and command of all police forces will be led by the Northern District Commander, and the head of the Traffic Division will command the traffic system in all its aspects, in the sensitive and complex operation.
The police are preparing to reduce as much as possible the difficulty of reaching Meron and minimize the damage to the lives of residents.
The preparations for the operation will be carried out in three main stages:
• The first stage - which took effect on Sunday: police officers were stationed near the celebration area in order to maintain order ahead of the event.
• The second and main phase of the operation will begin on Wednesday at 7:00 AM and end on Thursday at 12:00 PM. At this stage, approximately 5,000 police and soldiers will be deployed on all traffic routes leading to Meron in perimeter security circles and throughout the complex.
• The third phase will take place once the festivities have ended. The Kinneret police will leave the area in order to return the area to routine and regular activity.
As every year, the festivities will take place around predetermined lighting times.
The event will begin with the first lighting of the Bayan Hasidic lamp, on Wednesday at 8:30 PM - and will end with the last lighting of the Toldot Aharon Hasidic lamp, on Thursday at 7:00 PM.
Traffic and parking arrangements:
As part of drawing lessons from previous years and in order to ensure the safety of road users and immigrants, following the example of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, it was decided that this year, arrival at the festival will be permitted only via public transportation and organized transportation.
Public transportation lines throughout the country, and those leading to the north and Meron in particular, will be significantly increased in order to allow revelers to reach the complex itself comfortably and safely.
This year, Israel Railways will also operate to Karmiel Station, according to the regular Israel Railways schedule, and from there we will continue to Meron via paid public transportation.
Drop-off and pick-up of revelers arriving by public transportation will take place near the revelry site at regulated terminals.
For passengers on public transportation, refreshment stations have been arranged on Route 6 - "Alonit", on Route 722 - Shomirim Junction, and on Route 90 - Bezeq Checkpoint.
Buses from private transportation companies will be directed to the parking lots in Ein Hozim, Tzivon, and Frod. From there, revelers will be transported to the celebration site via free shuttles.
This year, the parking lots and the pedestrian paths leading to them will continue to be marked in different colors: red, yellow, blue and green - Terminal 89 was established this year for the benefit of the revelers - in a manner that matches the color of the travel ticket, in order to make it easier for the revelers to arrive at and leave the site.
Disabled people, with a disability certificate, who are limited to walking only, will reach the Prud parking lot via the Sheva intersection, or the Tzivon parking lot via the Gush Halav checkpoint, or the Ein Hozim parking lot via the Olive Square - where they will board the 'Ezer M'Zion' shuttle to Zion or, alternatively, to the Ein Hozim parking lot via the Elifelet interchange.
VIPs, who have a regulated permit from the Center for Holy Places, will arrive by prior arrangement at Junction Six (Khalfta), where a police escort will lead them to the site of the celebration.
When you are finished leaving the site, you should turn to the pedestrian route that matches the color, lighting, and flags of your travel ticket.
At any stage during the celebration, revelers are strictly prohibited from walking on the roads leading to the site for fear of putting their lives at risk.
There is great importance in conveying messages and emphases to the public of road users and the public celebrating even before the event.
Access to the celebration area and its vicinity by private vehicles will not be possible throughout the main phase of the event. The police say: "There is no point in trying to outsmart and bypass the checkpoints, since a large force of traffic police officers will be deployed on the traffic routes and also on the dirt roads leading to Meron.".
The following roads will be closed to private vehicle traffic starting Wednesday at 7:00 AM until the end of the event:
Route 866 – from the Hananya intersection towards Meron.
Highway 89 – from Hiram Junction to Elifelet Interchange, in both directions (via Jish Junction).
Route 886 – from Dalton Junction to Ein Zeitim Square.
Highway 8900 – from the Yaar intersection in Biriyeh to Ein Zeitim Square.
The exit from Safed is on Route 89.
Entry or exit from Safed will be possible via Highway 8900, from the direction of Rosh Pina only.
In addition, the public of road users should take into account that, as necessary, during the days of celebration There is a possibility of blocking the following intercity traffic routes:
Highway 65 – Tzalamon towards Kadrim (as needed).
Highway 85 – from Rama Junction to Amiad Junction, in both directions (as needed).
Parking of private vehicles in open areas and on the sides of the road will not be permitted. Vehicles parked in an unregulated manner, contrary to the instructions, will be towed and their owners will bear the towing costs.
Hundreds of police officers will be deployed on the roads leading to Meron in order to provide service to road users and the celebrating public.
The driving public is asked to be patient and obey the police officers' instructions and guidelines.
Residents living near Meron will be permitted to travel on the specified routes, only by presenting an ID card and a current supplement indicating their place of residence.
Citizens who have booked guest rooms/bed and breakfasts in these communities should verify with the hosts that they have provided their current details to the Israel Police:
Safed settlement cluster: (Safed, Achbara, Kadita, Alma, Dalton and Biriya) Vehicle entry will only be permitted through the Elifelet Interchange, Rosh Pina Junction, Dalton Junction and up to Ein Zeitim Square - vehicles will not be permitted to enter from other intersections.
Gush Halav settlement cluster: (Tzevon, Gush Halav, Safsofeh, Or HaGnuz and Bar Yohai) Vehicle entry will be permitted through the Tzevon intersection and Gush Halav intersection to the Bar Yohai intersection only - vehicles will not be permitted to enter from other intersections.
Hanania settlement cluster: (Ein El Asad, Parod, Amirim, Shefer and Kfar Shamai) Vehicle entry will be permitted through the Tzivon Intersection and the Gush Halav Intersection to the Tzomtz Bar Yohai intersection only - vehicles will not be permitted to enter from other intersections.
Meron residents, upon presentation of an ID card and a current supplement, will be able to enter the settlement of Meron with their vehicles only from the Gush Halav intersection (Route 89) and the Tzivon intersection. Vehicles will not be allowed to enter from other intersections.
Guests in the settlement of Meron whose details have been passed on to the Israel Police by the hosts will be able to enter the settlement of Meron with their vehicles only from the Gush Halav intersection (Route 89) and the Tzivon intersection until 12:00 noon on Wednesday. These vehicles will remain in the settlement of Meron until the end of the revelry on Thursday late at night.
In light of the changes in traffic arrangements, drivers are required to pay attention to directional signs and roadside signage, as well as listen to the media.
The police will provide ongoing and vital information to the public, before, during, and after the event, through the 110 hotline (the national police information hotline, not the 100 hotline used for emergencies) and through the media.
Under no circumstances will drones be allowed to fly in the event area in Meron, and enforcement on site will be in accordance with the law.
Children/adults with special needs who have gone missing:
The Israel Police, in cooperation with ZAKA, opened a position in the direction of the Rashbi's grave on the right.
The stand will be open from Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 12:00 noon until the end of the event on Thursday, May 3, 2018.
The station distributes bracelets to children or adults with special needs, which have the phone numbers of the parents or responsible adult written on them, so that in the event that a child/adult gets lost, the person responsible for them can be easily located using the bracelet.
In addition, in any case where a child/adult goes missing, you can call 1220 from any phone or come to a ZAKA station. ZAKA volunteers and the Israel Police will work to locate the missing person.
At this stage, volunteers are already distributing bracelets in schools and kindergartens with the parents' phone numbers on them so that during the festivities the children will wear the bracelets and if they get lost they can be easily located. So far, over 6,000 bracelets have been distributed.
The Israel Police appeals to the visiting public to adhere to the following safety rules:
• Do not climb electricity poles/fences/bus stops/trees and only move on roads marked for pedestrians.
• Small children should be kept close to an adult and not take your eyes off the children. Pay attention to the human pressure created in the area. Children should be given a hand or placed on their shoulders.
• It is recommended to pass through the ZAKA center on the way up the mountain on the right to pick up bracelets for children or adults with special needs, and to explain that in the event that someone gets lost, the parent/responsible adult will wait for them in the corner of the ZAKA center.
• Make sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather.
• The public is asked to obey the instructions of the police and ushers and avoid crowding into the lighting area.
The Israel Police is prepared for any scenario and, if necessary, a public address system will be activated in various languages and instructions will be given to the public accordingly.
Public Information Center:
The Information Center will provide answers to all issues starting on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 3:00 PM until May 3, 2018 at 11:00 PM by phone at 1-700-500-679.
The telephone number for the Israel Police Information Center is 110.
The phone number for the missing children hotline is: 1220 from any phone.
Safety of immigrants to Zion in Meron:
The public is asked in every language of request not to climb on electricity poles/fences and bus stops or on trees, and to move only on roads marked for pedestrians. Saving life is the sacred mission of Lag BaOmer.
The public is called upon to keep a close and necessary watch over the small children who arrive at the scene. Pay attention to the human pressure and do not take your eyes off the children for a moment, 'give them a hand' or put them on your shoulders.
If the weather is hot, the public is asked to drink plenty of water.
The police also say: "It is obligatory to obey the instructions of the police and the ushers and to avoid being pushed close to the lighting and the signal, and despite 'it is right for Rabbi Shimon to trust him in times of need,' we also know that the Gemara states that 'Let no one say, 'Perform a miracle for me,'""
