In an initial response, the country's cabinet minister who oversees the nation's police force defended the police's handling of the event. The stampede early Friday had cut short the annual festival of Lag BaOmer on Israel's Mount Meron. Israeli media said 32 of the 45 victims were identified before the start of the Sabbath at sundown Friday. Lag BaOmer is very popular with Israel's ultra-Orthodox community to honour Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a second-century sage and mystic who is believed to be buried there. But Israeli media said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured ultra-Orthodox leaders that the celebrations would take place, despite objections from public health officials.

Source: CBC News May 01, 2021 23:26 UTC