Violent clashes erupted during Lag Ba’omer, as hundreds of visitors to Meron demanded access to the kever of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai, despite legal and military restrictions.
Given the ongoing security issues and the frequent rocket attacks from Lebanon towards Meron, the Knesset enacted legislation restricting this year’s celebrations in Meron to thirty people, and the IDF designated the area as a closed military zone.
Defying these restrictions, hundreds still attempted to ascend the mountain, resulting in violent confrontations.
Footage released tonight shows police officers shoving an elderly chareidi man and throwing him to the ground. Sources in Meron reported that the elderly man sustained facial injuries.
Watch the footage above.
The National Security Ministry announced that the incident is under investigation.
Yerushalayim Minister Meir Porush commented, “The horrific sight of a Border Police officer violently pushing an elderly Jew to the ground, or another officer firing in the air at a civilian event, hurts every person’s heart and is inconceivable. I demand that the violent police officers be immediately removed from their positions.”
Religious Affairs Minister Michael Malkieli described the incident as “an inconceivable scene which cannot be ignored. Justice will immediately be done with the violators! We cannot simply move past this crime.”
MK Yoni Mashriki, chairman of the Health Committee, stated, “There was and will not be any justification for endangering the life of a helpless elderly individual and throwing him on the ground cruelly and mercilessly. I call on the Unit for Investigation of Police Officers and on the Border Police to investigate the incident and bring those involved fully to justice.”
A police statement read, “Since the morning hours, hundreds of people arrived at the area of the gravesite, clashing with the police and causing damage to property placed at the site for the purpose of ensuring their safety.”

{Matzav.com Israel}