In a significant legal breakthrough following years of courtroom battles, families of those who perished in the Meron tragedy are set to receive major financial compensation from the Israeli government and responsible entities, including the National Center for the Development of Holy Places and various insurance companies.
The development comes as part of an agreement formulated with the involvement of attorney Eran Becker, of the Eran Becker & Co. law firm, who represents several bereaved families. The deal has been endorsed by the Lod District Court under Judge Irit Cohen, and will soon be submitted for court approval with the consent of the families and the State Attorney’s Office.
According to the agreement, families of young victims—defined as those aged 24 and under—will receive substantial compensation. In one leading case handled by Becker, a bereaved family is expected to be awarded approximately 2.9 million shekels. Similar amounts have been proposed in other cases, scaled according to the age of the deceased.
For now, the compensation will be paid out by the State of Israel, the National Center for the Development of Holy Places, and the relevant insurance firms.
Attorneys Eran Becker and Moran Cohen Yonatan, representing some of the victim families, released a joint statement: “This compensation reflects not only the immense loss these families have endured, but also the responsibility that must be borne by the state and other involved bodies for the grave failures that contributed to this tragedy.The warning signs were evident. Years of willful blindness led to a disaster that was tragically foreseeable. The agreement now awaiting court approval is a critical step—morally, legally, and publicly—in declaring that human life is not expendable, that the suffering of the victims matters, and that accountability must be upheld for the severe negligence that led to this catastrophe. We are proud of the families who chose not to remain silent, who fought for justice, and who stood firm in insisting that justice must not only be done but also seen to be done. No amount of money can bring back their loved ones, but this is an important milestone in the journey toward recognition, justice, and healing.”
The Meron disaster occurred on the night of Lag BaOmer 5781, during the annual hilulah of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai. Amid extreme overcrowding in a narrow passage near the Toldos Aharon bonfire area, 45 people were crushed to death, and over 150 were injured. It remains one of the deadliest civilian tragedies in Israel’s history. In its aftermath, a state commission of inquiry was established, which uncovered serious lapses in planning, oversight, and responsibility by various governmental and police authorities.
{Matzav.com Israel}