Mount Meron disaster proves that Israeli sovereignty is an illusion

ZVI BAR’EL: The State of Israel is gradually coming to resemble Lebanon, Syria or Iraq, where organizations, religions and ethnic minorities have become the real rulers of the country

The concept of “autonomy” originated with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It’s already hard to recall that we used to talk here about Palestinian autonomy, self-rule, a “territorial compromise” as opposed to a “functional compromise.” All these served as a cover for one objective: There would be no independent Palestinian state.

It’s true that no Palestinian state has been established to date, but the autonomy plan is alive and kicking, and is even being implemented in full. Not among the Palestinians, but among us. There is no single autonomy here, there is a cluster of autonomies that are connected by fragile threads, and compose the so-called “State of Israel.” After the disaster on Lag Ba’omer on Mount Meron the concept has become an expression that defines the territorial area in which ultra-Orthodox sects reign on the mountain, and which the government is not allowed to enter. A kind of independent enclave that lacks only a flag and an anthem.

FULL STORY Mount Meron disaster proves that Israeli sovereignty is an illusion (Haaretz)

Police chief said to ask attorney general for state inquiry into Meron disaster (Times of Israel)
Kobi Shabtai reportedly says he hopes investigation will be free from the ‘pressures’ of various bodies who operate site of religious festival where 45 killed in crush

Photo: The scene of the stampede tragedy at Mount Meron, yesterday (Gil Eliahu/Haaretz)