Members of the Knesset Ombudsmen Committee on Wednesday, 1 Cheshvan 5773 visited Kever Rachel ahead of the yahrzeit, which is expected to bring upwards of 100,000 mispallalim next week. Joining committee members will be security officials and representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, Tourism, and Transportation, all working together to prepare for the large operation. MDA and other EMS and rescue organization officials will also be on hand as will City Hall representatives.

Committee Chair (Shas) David Azoulay is calling on all the relevant agencies to improve performance as to avoid the horror stories of previous years, including mispallalim waiting for buses and traffic entering and exiting the site to mention one of the major issues. Last year there were also security issues and mispallalim were compelled to remain inside until the situation in the area was controlled.

Azoulay is calling for increased deployment of security forces to permit mispallalim wishing to walk to do so. He also wants to sharply curtail the number of private vehicles permitted to access the site on the yahrzeit. He is also pushing for the completion of infrastructure work at the complex and for the formulation of an appropriate plan to greet and accommodate VIPs.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)