Police clarifies: no private cars in Meron

As revealed first in Behadrey Haredim over a month ago, this year on Lag Ba'Omer 'vehicles out - shuttle buses in'. The National Traffic Police will operate a completely different plan than in the past. This year for the first time, the arrival of private vehicles in the parking lots surrounding the Meron will not be allowed at all, and the entire traffic to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Lag B'Omer will be by buses only.

"We learned the lessons of what happened last year, and with joint team work together with the police and experts of transportation from the Technion, it was decided that this year anyone who wants to get to Meron will use buses only," said Commander Amnon Itzkowitz, commander of the National Traffic Police, talking to reporters from the religious/haredi press.

Commander Itzkowitz said that according to expectation, for the celebration on Lag B'Omer in Meron hundreds of thousands of visitors will arrive, some of which will precede their arrival during the week with a focus on Friday. From past experience, there is an expectation of masses who will come to celebrate immediately after Shabbos.

Commander Itzkowitz reviewed new traffic arrangements, and said that this year priority will be given to public transport under the control and supervision of the Ministry of Transport only. Referring to the arrival from different cities in the country to Meron he said, "celebrants will be taken to the celebration on Mount Meron from cities all over the country with pay through the regular lines of transportation companies, and with reinforcement and deployment of additional collection points in major cities in which will be a increase of those wishing to reach the celebration. On the days of celebration the public transportation system will be significantly reinforced and additional lines on the national level will be opened after examination and early analysis of the Ministry of Transport. Off loading and collecting of celebrants arriving with public transport buses will be near the site of the festivities at regulated terminals."

National Traffic Police Commander Amnon Itzkowitz relates police deployment for the Lag Ba'omer operation


The commander stressed that "buses of private transport companies will be directed to parking garages in Ein Hozim and Safsufa, from which celebrants will be driven to the site using free of pay shuttles. Disabled, who have a legally recognized limited movement will be allowed to park at a separate garage and will be transported to Meron free of charge.

Parking will not be allowed in the areas and on the roadside near and far surroundings of Moshav Meron/the site of celebration.

The Traffic Wing seek to emphasize the civil discipline required of masses of Jews when arriving in Meron and mutual responsibility for implementation of the rules of arrival in order to reduce the waiting time to a minimum.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!