Arab Towns in Northern Israel Rally to Aid of Meron Disaster Survivors

“Our hearts go out to the families, out of responsibility, solidarity and out of a belief in human equality, a refreshment station and water for the evacuees from Mount Meron,” said Nazareth Council Chairman Amir Mazarariv.

By The Algemeiner 

As Israeli authorities continued work to identify the victims of the disaster on Mount Meron early Friday morning, nearby Arab communities in Israel’s north sprung to the aid of the Haredi survivors.

In the Arab city of Tamra — about an hour’s drive from the site of the incident, where tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews celebrating the Lag B’Omer holiday — a refreshment station was set-up for those heading south from Meron, Israel’s Walla news website reported.

“Food, drink and a place to refresh are waiting for every passerby,” the Tamra Gardens event space said.

The Israeli-Arab activist Yoseph Haddad called it an act of “touching solidarity in the midst of such tragedy.”

In Tamra, a refreshment station is being set up for the evacuees from Mt Meron who can rest, eat, drink and contact the families. There are many initiatives of Arab Israelis coming together, even now during the Ramadan fast. Touching solidarity in the midst of such tragedy pic.twitter.com/UXSfmxDsjd

— יוסף חדאד – Yoseph Haddad (@YosephHaddad) April 30, 2021

Another refreshment station was set up in the village of Zarzir, near Nazareth, according to journalist Sami Abed Alhamid.

“Our hearts go out to the families, out of responsibility, solidarity and out of a belief in human equality, a refreshment station and water for the evacuees from Mount Meron,” said Nazareth Council Chairman Amir Mazarariv, Alhamid reported

As many as 100,000 Jewish pilgrims headed to Mount Meron for the holiday, which began Thursday evening, to visit the grave of the second-century sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on the anniversary of his death.

At least 45 adults and children were killed and more than 150 injured, including many in critical condition, after a narrow passageway became overcrowded with people. On Friday evening, some survivors were still looking to make contact with their families.

Walla reported that makeshift rest stations were opened in the small Druze towns of Hurfeish and Beit Jann, both adjacent to Mount Meron, where residents offered their homes and local facilities to aid any evacuees.

Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the head of the Druze community, said that “members of the Druze community and the Druze villages share in the grief of the families who lost their loved ones, and are ready to provide any help in the Mount Meron area.”

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