It probably does not come as a surprise to many, but the Bnei Tzion Mechina in Tel Aviv has announced it is closing its doors for the coming academic year to permit time to rebuild itself.

Some of the heads of the mechina are facing criminal charges for their ill-fated decision in April, permitting applicants to the school to participate in a Negev outing when all officials warned them against it due to ominous flash flooding warnings. As a result of the outing, ten of the young candidates lost their lives in a flash food.

The popular mechina, which has been operating for about a decade, will not be opening for the coming school year, as was announced by the Council of Pre-Military Mechinot in Israel. The council stands behind the school, promising to help rebuilt it after the tragedy.

The head of the school, Yuval Kahan, a lt.-colonel in the IDF reserves, resigned his position following the tragedy which left nine girls and one boy dead, after he failed to heed the warnings giving to him, giving the green light for the outing. Police completed their investigating and submitted their findings to the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office, recommending criminal charges.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)