Braverman to PM: Must establish c'tee to investigate fire

Labor minister tells Netanyahu gov't can't wait for public pressure; "make this the 2nd Lebanon War of decision making in public sphere."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
311_Avishai Braverman (photo credit: Associated Press)
311_Avishai Braverman
(photo credit: Associated Press)
Minority Affairs Minister Avishay Braverman sent a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Monday calling on him to establish a state investigative committee to look into the Carmel fire.
Braverman wrote, "We need to turn the Carmel fire into the 'Second Lebanon War' of decision-making in the civilian sphere." He continued, "If we don't pay attention to what occurred like a serious earthquake and investigate it without fear - then we will not learn the necessary lessons."
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The Labor minister pointed out how the country and military had learned many important lessons from the Second Lebanon War, but only because of the commission set up to investigate it.
He added in his letter to Netanyahu, "I am calling on you to act immediately to establish a state investigative committee to look into the disastrous events. Let us not wait for any public pressure in order to establish it. Let us not be afraid of establishing it."
"A committee like this will establish rule, norms and processes that will ensure that in other instances, no less important, on the national agenda, we will known how to govern and prepare ourselves differently," Braverman wrote.
On Sunday, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin announced that the Knesset would hold its first discussion of the Carmel forest fire on Monday.
Rivlin said he received requests from a number of Knesset faction heads to hold a session on the matter Wednesday, as is customary for discussions on points of order. The speaker, however, decided to push the hearing forward and proposed that the government close Monday’s debate with an official statement upon which the Knesset will take a vote.
Rebecca Anna Stoil contributed to this report.


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