The political implications of the Mount Meron crush

Analysis: The tragic Meron disaster befell Israel only a few days before Netanyahu's government mandate expires, begging the question whether he will now seek an extension and what part will the launch of an independent commission of inquiry play in government talks
Itamar Eichner, Tova Zimuky|
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The tragedy in which 45 people lost their lives on Mount Meron befell Israel with only four days left for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government.
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    • The question now remains whether he will seek an extension of the mandate as a result — a request that President Reuven Rivlin would decline according to most estimates in the political system.
    3 View gallery
    ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו תורם דם    ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו תורם דם
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu donates blood for those injured in the Mount Meron crush
    (Photo: GPO)
    Establishing an independent commission of inquiry into the tragedy will also arise during government negotiations.
    After police officials traded recriminations, the investigation was given to the Police Internal Investigations Department (PIID), with Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit ordering to not take statements from the officers who were at the scene as part of a preliminary probe.
    During his visit to the scene of the disaster, Netanyahu promised to lead a "thorough, earnest and in-depth investigation to ensure that such a disaster does not happen again."
    3 View gallery
    נתניהו ואוחנה בהר מירון    נתניהו ואוחנה בהר מירון
    Netanyahu and Public Security Minister Amir Ohana (center) visiting the scene of the Lag Baomer stampede in Mount Meron
    (Photo: Moshe Mizrahi)
    However, the prime minister did not promise an independent public inquiry which governments often prefer to avoid.
    The government also has the option to launch a government inquiry, whose powers are much more limited. For example, a government inquiry cannot subpoena witnesses, unlike a public inquiry, unless expressly authorized to do so in a government decision. In both cases, the PIID investigation will be put to a halt.
    Some of the victims in the tragic Lag BaOmer crush — the worst civilian disaster in Israel's history — were laid to rest before Shabbat. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir, where the bodies were taken to, only managed to identify the bodies of 32 victims by the advent of Shabbat.
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    הלוויה של משה נתן נטע אנגלרד בן 14 ויהושע אנגלרד בן 9 וחצי    הלוויה של משה נתן נטע אנגלרד בן 14 ויהושע אנגלרד בן 9 וחצי
    The funeral procession of 14-year-old Nathan Neta Engelrad and 9-year-old Yehosha Engelrad — two brothers who perished in the Mount Meron crush
    (Photo: Amit Shabi)
    The institute said that it could not continue identifying and releasing the bodies during Shabbat due to an order from the chief rabbi of Israel.
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    2.
    Netaniahu should be given extra time to form gov!
    Netanyahu should be given extra time to form the gov. when such a tragedy occurs really there is not time to spend in negotiations to form the government. First check the issues about the tragedy, start a thorough investigation (give it 20 days to finish the investigation and table who is responsible and what needs to be done to avoid repetition of the tragedy next year) , suspend the chief police officers (from the top to the local) or better let them submit resignation in the coming week, bury all the victims, offer assistance to families, then we can come back to the government. the tragedy also shows, Saar and Bennet should stop playing games and concentrate on what is essential for a strong right wing government under Netaniahu. Honestly none else can aspire to be prime minister more that Netaniahu who has 30% of the people's vote, this is obvious! anything else is stealing the peoples' will! the people of Israel wants Netaniahu as their Leader, so anyone else can join him for some ministers portfolio!
    Menaseh ben yehuda| 05.02.21
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    1.
    Ynet has begun spinning this tragedy to blame Netanyahu
    It doesn't know yet how to do it but is seeking any possible angle that even can slightly show that Netanyahu is at fault. Imbecile Barnea is very good at connecting dots that don't exist.
    Steve Benassi| 05.01.21
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