Bennett Confronted by Bereaved Mother Over 2018 Tzafit Stream Disaster
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
At an election event in Modi'in, Naftali Bennett was confronted by Rotem Bar Shalom, the mother of a victim of the 2018 Tzafit stream disaster. She questioned his past actions as Education Minister regarding the disaster and accused him of opposing an investigative committee. Bennett defended his record, leading to a heated argument where Bar Shalom accused him of lying. The exchange ended with Bar Shalom leaving the event. The disaster resulted in the conviction of two program directors.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A mother confronted Naftali Bennett at an election event about his role in the 2018 Tzafit stream disaster.
- She accused Bennett, then Education Minister, of negligence and opposing an investigative committee.
- Bennett defended his actions and called for a commission of inquiry into a separate transportation matter.
- The mother claimed Bennett lied about his stance on an investigation into the disaster.
- The confrontation ended with the mother angrily leaving the event.
- Ten teenagers died in the 2018 Tzafit stream disaster, leading to convictions for program directors.
A heated exchange occurred at a joint election event for Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid in Modi'in when the mother of a victim of the 2018 Tzafit stream disaster confronted Bennett, then Minister of Education, about his responsibility for the incident.
The confrontation began with a question directed at Bennett regarding Transportation Minister Miri Regev and alleged failures related to a Flydubai flight. Bennett responded that Regev was the "most failed Minister of Transport in the country's history" and called for a commission of inquiry, comparing the potential consequences to a hypothetical crash killing 1,200 people.
Rotem Bar Shalom then identified herself as the mother of Ilan Bar Shalom, who died in the Tzafit stream disaster, and questioned Bennett's actions as Education Minister. She asked why he did not resign and accused him of knowing about dangerous conditions at preparatory programs, which she termed "wild west," and allowing them to continue under his "safety enables" agenda. Bar Shalom also claimed Bennett had opposed the establishment of an investigative committee after the disaster.
Bennett stated he had visited the bereaved families personally after the disaster and attended the inquiry committee. However, Bar Shalom interrupted, accusing him of lying and insisting he had not agreed to an investigation at the time. The argument escalated over whether Bennett had supported an inquiry, with Bar Shalom asserting he had not and Bennett claiming he had.
The exchange concluded with Bar Shalom and her partner leaving the hall amidst angry shouts directed at the audience. The Tzafit stream disaster in April 2018 claimed the lives of ten teenagers during a trip for candidates of the "Bnei Zion" preparatory program. The program's director, Yuval Kahan, and educational director, Aviv Bardichev, were convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to seven years in prison, though prosecutors are appealing for a harsher sentence.
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