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Bennett Confronted Over 2018 Flash Flood Deaths
Former Education Minister Naftali Bennett was confronted by the parents of a victim of the 2018 Tzafit Stream disaster during a joint election campaign event with Yair Lapid in Modi'in on Thursday evening. Rotem Bar-Shalom, the mother of Ilan Bar-Shalom, who died in the disaster, challenged Bennett over his responsibility and his response to the tragedy.
3 newsrooms · 1 language · since
What happened
- 01Naftali Bennett was confronted by the parents of a 2018 Tzafit Stream disaster victim at a campaign event in Modi'in on Thursday.
- 02Rotem Bar-Shalom questioned Bennett's responsibility as Education Minister during the disaster and asked why he did not resign.
- 03Bar-Shalom accused Bennett of allowing pre-military academies to operate without oversight and opposing an inquiry committee.
- 04Bennett defended his actions, claiming he met with all ten bereaved families and supported the investigation.
- 05The parents called Bennett a liar, stating he met them eight months after the incident and opposed the inquiry.
- 06The heated exchange ended with Rotem and Uriel Bar-Shalom leaving the election event angrily.
- 07Ten teenagers died in the April 2018 Tzafit Stream flash flood, which led to the conviction of two academy directors.
The confrontation began after Bennett criticized Transportation Minister Miri Regev, calling her the most failed transportation minister in the country's history and calling for an inquiry committee over a aviation matter. Bar-Shalom then identified herself and questioned why Bennett did not resign as Education Minister after the disaster, accusing him of allowing pre-military academies to operate without oversight and opposing the establishment of an inquiry committee at the time.
Bennett defended his record, stating that he personally met with all ten bereaved families, conducted his own investigation, and cooperated with the inquiry. Bar-Shalom and her husband, Uriel, accused Bennett of lying, asserting that he met the families only eight months after the incident and that the inquiry committee was established against his wishes. The parents then left the event angrily.
The April 2018 Tzafit Stream disaster resulted in the drowning of ten pre-military academy trainees and candidates during a flash flood. Subsequent investigations revealed severe negligence and minimal oversight of the academy involved, ultimately leading to the conviction of two program directors.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Maariv. Read Maariv’s originalThe coverage
3 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- Centre1
- Right1
- Haredi1
- ArabNone
Not in the Left or Arab press
