A memorial plaque dedicated to the 45 victims of the Mount Meron disaster has been destroyed in what appears to be a deliberate act of vandalism.
The memorial features photos of the 45 people crushed to death at the Lag Ba’omer event in April of this year and hangs next to the path where the crush occurred.
Visitors to Meron discovered the destruction early on Wednesday morning when they arrived to pray on the hilltop. According to haredi (ultra-Orthodox) news site Kikar Hashabbat, the vandalism happened some time after 3 a.m., as late-night visitors to the site confirmed to them that the plaque had been seen unharmed shortly before that.
Representatives of the Meron Disaster Families Forum filed a complaint with the police following the discovery of the destruction.
“Tonight a red line was crossed, ugly vandalism that provokes shock and disgust in the heart of every Jew,” a forum representative said. “The Israeli police is expected to act immediately to find those responsible for this ugly vandalism, and to bring them to justice.”
Later on Wednesday, the Knesset is reportedly scheduled to vote on a bill drafted by United Torah Judaism MK Yakov Asher which will grant financial compensation the families of the Meron victims if it is passed successfully.