Knesset Minister Asks About Bomb Shelters in Meron: ‘We may not rely on miracles’

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Yisrael Eichler, a longtime UTJ Knesset Minister, raised the issue on the Knesset floor of why the sacred religious site of Meron does not have bomb shelters.

Eichler posed the question to Religious Minister Michoel Malkieli of the Shas party.

As reported on the Charedi website Kikar Shabbos, Eichler asked, “Tens of thousands of people visit the [Kever] Rashbi in Meron, but there are no bomb shelters there, endangering the Mitpallelim, especially during the current situation.

“I want to ask – when will mobile bomb shelters be set up, in order to protect the Mitpallelim there?”

Malkieli replied: “First let me say that your question is valid, I also frequently visit Meron and it is crucial for shelters to be placed there. Although the installment of bomb shelters is not the jurisdiction of the Religious Ministry, the director of the National Center for the Development of the Mekomot Hakedoshim appealed to the Defense Ministry at the beginning of the war and was informed that there’s a shortage due to the situation in the south….We will appeal to the Defense Ministry again until bomb shelters are installed.”

Eichler added: “Technically my question is ideally directed at the Defense Minister but I know he is extremely busy during the war so we thought that the question should be asked of the Religious Minister, who is responsible for the Mekomot HaKedoshim….

He added, “The thing that I want to avoid the most is that they close the place…which is so fundamental. Therefore, we must do everything possible – a bomb shelter system, because we may not rely on miracles. (‘Ein somchin al hanes.’)

He added, “Not just one or two – and also ensure that the red alert sirens operate as needed. This is part of freedom of religion and tefillah, and we must do everything possible to ensure the safety of mispallelim.”