Fear of Lebanese Attacks: Netanyahu Cancels Major Religious Gathering at Mount Meron

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the cancellation of the annual Lag BaOmer religious festival at Mount Meron in northern Israel, citing serious security threats from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
The Lag BaOmer celebration is one of the most significant events in the Jewish religious calendar, drawing hundreds of thousands of worshippers each year to the slopes of Mount Meron in the Galilee region. The festival commemorates the anniversary of the passing of the revered second-century Jewish sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, marked by bonfires, singing, dancing, and communal prayers.
According to Israeli security officials, the large gathering posed an unacceptable risk given the current escalation along the northern border, where Hezbollah has continued cross-border rocket and drone attacks in support of Gaza operations. Intelligence assessments reportedly warned that a mass congregation of this scale could present a high-value target for enemy strikes.
“The safety of Israeli citizens is our highest priority,” a senior government official stated. “This was not an easy decision, but it was the right one.”
The cancellation has drawn mixed reactions across Israeli society. While security experts and many civic leaders praised the precautionary measure, several prominent religious figures expressed disappointment, calling it a concession to fear and a disruption of sacred Jewish tradition.
The decision underscores the far-reaching impact of the ongoing conflict on daily civilian and religious life in Israel, as tensions along the Lebanese border show no signs of immediate de-escalation.