Today, the 12th memorial service for the victims of the Carmel disaster was held at the memorial in Carmel. The ceremony was attended by the bereaved families and Minister of Internal Security Omar Bar Lev, Director General of the Ministry of Internal Security Tomer Lotan, Commissioner of the Rabbi Gondar Prison Service Kati Perry, Commissioner of the Police Chief Rabbi Yaakov Shabtai, Commissioner of Fire and Rescue Rabbi Tafser Eyal Caspi, Vice President and Chief Family and Heritage Division at the Ministry of Defense Mr. Aryeh Moalem, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, the conversation from Wapak Trif and other dignitaries.
During the ceremony, a discussion of bereaved brothers was screened, during which Gila Raviv, the sister of the late Misher Inbal Amoyel, Yaniv Malina, the brother of the late Deputy Chief Itzik Malina, Major Ron Hayit, the brother of the late Master Sergeant Danny Hayit And Colonel Alaa Abu Rish, brother of the late Misher Wasim Abu Rish. The brothers talked about the strong longing, the special bond between the bereaved brothers and their great pride in their brother. With the end of the screening of the talk, deep condolences were sent to the Suisa family who lost Yoel Suisa, the brother of the late Misher Yakir Suisa who perished in the Carmel disaster. His brother was killed a few days ago by being hit by a car when he was riding an emergency motorcycle of the Rescue Union, where he volunteered.
The memorial torch was lit by Micha Peretz, the brother of the late Misher Ronan Peretz, accompanied by the casualty officer of the Nachshon unit, Avihai Zafarani. The speech of the bereaved families was carried by Nofer Booker, the home of the late Lieutenant Lior Booker. Yoav Israeli, son of the late Misher Rami Israeli said Kaddish.
At the end of the ceremony, the representatives of the bereaved families accompanied the wreath-laying stand near the monument.
The Carmel disaster occurred on Hanukkah 1771, and it claimed the lives of forty-four dead – thirty-seven cadets and commanders in the prison service officers’ course, three police officers, two firefighters, a boy volunteering in the fire and rescue system and the driver of the bus in which the cadets were traveling.
Minister of Internal Security Amr Bar-Lev: “Here, in this place, 12 years ago, the great fire burned and consumed lives. 44 of our best sons and daughters, wearing uniforms from the internal security agencies, citizens and volunteers – excellent and humble public messengers who chose to dedicate their lives to the safety and resilience of The State of Israel, fell into a void when they courageously and determinedly strove to save life and nature.”
“The fact that only after such a heavy disaster, the State of Israel was required and learned to understand the depth of the breach in its firefighting and rescue systems is excruciating. But now, I stand here before you and state that the reality today is completely different, and of course for the better and the State of Israel is much better prepared to deal with fires and natural disasters.”
may them rest in peace.