Lag B’Omer pilgrimage canceled over fear of Hezbollah attack

Authorities shut down access to Mount Meron and surrounding communities as tensions rise along the northern border.

By World Israel News Staff

The Israeli police announced on Sunday that a major religious event in northern Israel has been canceled — signaling concerns that a significant escalation with the Hezbollah terror group may be on the horizon.

The annual pilgrimage, held during the holiday of Lag B’Omer, typically draws tens of thousands of worshippers to the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai — also known as the Rashbi — on Mount Meron.

Located approximately 33 kilometers (20 miles) from the Lebanese border, Mount Meron has remained within range of ongoing hostilities. Although a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel is technically in place, it has been repeatedly strained by near-daily attacks targeting northern Israel.

The event had been scheduled to begin on the evening of Monday, May 4, in a limited-capacity format with only a few hundred participants, as previously announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, just one day before it was set to begin, police declared a full closure of the area.

Authorities said checkpoints would be established on surrounding roads to prevent unauthorized access. In a statement, police added that anyone attempting to reach nearby communities would be required to present identification proving residency in the area.

Given the religious significance and scale of the pilgrimage, its cancellation may indicate growing concern within Israel’s security establishment about hostilities intensifying.

While a ceasefire remains officially in place, Hezbollah attacks on Israeli forces have continued at a steady pace. In the past week alone, several Israeli soldiers and a civilian contractor working for the Defense Ministry in southern Lebanon were killed in attacks, many involving explosive drones.

Although residents of Israel’s northern border communities have not been evacuated — as tens of thousands were in following the October 7 Hamas massacres — the cancellation of the Lag B’Omer pilgrimage suggests the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah remains far from over.