Modi’in Illit Mayor Rav Yaakov Gutterman responded angrily to accusations that his office is responsible for the tragic death of the Modi’in Illit girl who was swept away in the current on erev Shabbos 8 Adar 5772.
According to reports from the Torah city, calls were made to City Hall hours before the event occurred, warning of the dangers of the nachal running through the area. Warnings were also posted to the Kikar Shabbat website on Thursday, a day before the event, stating “A tragedy is going to occur here. 1000 families are cut off from the world because of the flooded nachal that blocks the main access road to the community”.
“If a tragedy occurs, the Ministry of Interior and local authorities will be responsible. Hundreds of people are stranded, unable to return home. There is no passage to vehicles” another warning read.
Yitzchak, who apparently wrote the warnings on the website, is now quoted by Kikar Shabbat as saying “We knew a tragedy would occur. It is unacceptable that an entire neighborhood is cut off. It is a recipe for disaster”.
KIKAR: Did you turn to the municipality?
YITZCHAK: No I did not. There is simply no one to speak with there. There were here. They saw the flood waters.
END
There has been an undertone of criticism directed against the mayor and his staff after the tragic incident. City Hall rejects the criticism, stating officials did everything possible with the available resources, including using an emergency vehicle to get people in and out of the Cheftziba area that was cut off due to the nachal.
City Hall officials also released a statement to Kol Chai Radio, accusing those who are now pointing a finger of blame and “dancing on the blood of the young girl z”l”. City officials accuse the critics of seeking to advance their political agenda on the tragic event, the loss of life.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
One Response
The unfortunate incident had nothing to do with the flood waters. The water just ran over the road instead of running under it. The accident happenned farther downstream where there would have been rushing water regardless.
It doesn’t vindicate the regional council and the city for not figuring out how to fix the problem and it doesn’t erase the fact that it was a dangerous situation but I beleive the mayor was correct in saying that the city bears no responsibility for this tragedy.