Israeli Police: 28 Iyar Event At Shmuel Hanavi’s Tomb Cannot Take Place

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — In the wake of the harsh clashes between police and pilgrims to Meron on Lag Ba’Omer, Israeli police have announced that in the current situation they will not allow the Hilula prayers to take place at the tomb of Shmuel Hanavi, whose yarhzeit is on the 28th (or 29th) of Iyar according to ancient traditions.

Thousands of people converge annually on Nebi Samuel just north of Jerusalem, which is reputed to be the site of Ramah, where Shmuel is buried according to biblical sources. However police now say that the organizers and promoters of the events taking place at Nebi Samuel have not coordinated their efforts with police and therefore they cannot authorize the event.

Police claim that a) An engineer’s safety plan has not been provided b) The official permits from the fire authority and MDA have not been given c) A transportation plan has not been authorized by Jerusalem region traffic engineers d) Security plans do not meet the needs for such a large crowd of people.

For these reasons the event promoters were informed by police that permits would not be issued for the events without the necessary security coordination and therefore the site would have to be closed on the Hilula.

A police official told the Kikar Hashabat website that “If the organizers will cooperate with police and provide the necessary plans, police will be happy to secure the thousands of worshipers as they do every year. We’re here to help not to hinder.”