During a Knesset discussion addressing the state budget, MK Menachem Eliezer Moses decided to raise the matter of the decision of Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, to build a station on the Carmiel train line at Chananya Junction to serve travelers heading to the tziyun of the Rashbi in Meron.

Moses spoke about “the largest annual event in Israel”, Lag B’Omer in Meron, explaining it attracts people from all walks of life and all ethnicities. He pointed out the weakest link in the annual event is the transportation. Moses quoted that in Lag B’Omer 2007, the transportation collapsed entirely and men, women, children and the elderly were compelled to walk kilometers while buses could not move.

Moses explained he intervened and this led to the construction of the walkway, permitting a separation between people and the buses. He added that unfortunately the solution only lasted a few years as the number of people coming increases with each year. He explains this makes the Rashbi the second most popular tourist site in Israel after the Kosel.

Moses spoke of the failures and delays this past year as well, expressing hope the new station of the rail line will be ready by the next Lag B’Omer as planned, permitting train passengers to get to Chananya Junction near Meron.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)