Approved: establishment of a state commission to inquire the events that led to the Meron disaster

The government has approved the establishment of a state commission of inquiry to look into the events that led to the Meron disaster. 52 days after 45 people lost their lives and hundreds more were injured to varying degrees, a committee will be set up headed by a judge that will include four other members besides him.
The state will allocate NIS 6 million to the administration of the courts on a one-time basis, as well as 5 temporary manpower standards that will be used for the committee's expenses. The resolution approved at noon (Sunday) states that "the committee will investigate the chain of events and set findings and conclusions regarding all aspects of the event, including the following matters: the decision-making circles that led to the approval of the event and the outline Religious worship events and the places used by the public to hold them, including places used for multi-participant events. "
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said at a meeting this morning: "As we promised, we are approving the proposal of my friends Defense Minister Bnei Gantz and Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman to establish a state commission of inquiry into the Mount Meron disaster. 45 people lost their lives in the terrible disaster and we have a responsibility to The lessons and prevent the next disaster.The committee will not be able to bring back to life those who are not, but the government can do everything to prevent unnecessary loss in the future.As we said, a commission of inquiry will be set up.
"Along with the committee, it is important to tell the worshipers and all the people who come to Meron - we will do everything so that the tradition of the Lag B'Omer celebrations, and all year round, continues. People from all sectors come to Meron: ultra-Orthodox, religious Zionist, traditional, Sephardic, Ashkenazi, secular. It is our responsibility to ensure their security, that is the role of the government and that is what we will do. "
Defense Minister Bnei Gantz said that "the establishment of the committee is a moral debt to the Israeli public, and also to families. We must make sure that such an event never occurs. This is a committee whose job is first and foremost to save lives. I thank Finance Minister Of the establishment of the committee already at the first cabinet meeting. " Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman added that "today we are opening a new page, no more conduct of the Knesset at the expense of the citizens of the country. It is time to draw conclusions, take responsibility and prevent the next catastrophe, this is how a government that has come to strengthen public trust works. I once again express my sincere condolences to the families of those killed in the disaster. We are here for you. "
The body set up to investigate the disaster by the government is formed when an acute crisis of confidence arises - or question marks over the functioning of the executive branch. The head of a state commission of inquiry, set up by the presidents of the Supreme Court, is headed by a Supreme Court, a district judge or a retired judge. The one which is established by the President of the Supreme Court, stands by a Supreme Court judge, a district judge or a retired judge. Most often, the committee members are judges with expertise in the field of examination. The number of committee members cannot be even.
The government drafts the letter of appointment to the committee detailing its mandate and the issues of inquiry. Once the decision has been made in the government and the wording of the letter of appointment, the government is no longer allowed to interfere in the composition of the committee or its working arrangements. Such a committee has the same powers as the courts. It can summon witnesses and oblige them to appear, as well as issue search warrants. The committee may also compel state authorities and citizens to provide it with materials that may assist in the investigation, including confidential materials. However, the committee is not obliged to follow the rules of procedure and the law of evidence that are customary in the courts in Israel.
Committee members cannot use the material collected as evidence in a criminal trial, as the desire is to focus on the public aspects of the incident and remove concern from cabinet members deciding to set up the committee, or citizens testifying to it, that they may face criminal prosecution following the investigation. Interrogees that the committee decides for a time have no right to be represented unless they have received a "warning letter" from the committee stating that they may be harmed by the investigation or its results.
Upon completion of its work, the committee submits a report on the results of its investigation and may attach recommendations to the report as it sees fit. The committee's conclusions are not binding in the formal sense, but the government must discuss them. However, if the committee draws conclusions - the government will have to explain why it does not implement them and it is likely to be exposed to petitions to the High Court if it does not implement them.