Netanyahu thwarts Carmel fire inquiry

Knesset Member Uri Ariel (National Union) announced on Monday that he would also oppose the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Carmel fire disaster. Ariel made his decision after a discussion with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The PM has apparently also convinced MK Raleb Majadele (Labor) to vote with the coalition against a national commission inquiry, thus obtaining a majority of eight members against the establishment of an inquiry committee in the Knesset's State Control Committee deliberations on the matter, which are scheduled for Tuesday. 

In response to the development, the Kadima party accused Netanyahu of "buying Knesset members."

"This is political blackmail that stinks to high heaven. Netanyahu is buying MKs shamelessly, thus trying to shirk his responsibility for one of the biggest catastrophes the country has ever known at any price. Netanyahu knows what he has to hide and so is investing all his efforts in foiling an inquiry into the fire, more than he invested to prevent the fire itself," a Kadima statement read.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman rejected calls for the establishment of a national commission of inquiry into the Carmel fire disaster and claimed that the State Comptroller's report was enough in order to allow authorities to make readjustments to the fire and emergency services and review conclusions.

He made the statements on a visit to the disaster area with 30 ambassadors and embassy representatives from countries that sent aid and assistance to Israel during the Carmel disaster.

"The comptroller's report which was presented immediately after the disaster is detailed and has enough material in order to draw the necessary conclusions," said Lieberman, adapting to the prime minister's position on the issue.

"There is no need to seek out a guilty party; we need to learn the lessons. The comptroller provided all the necessary material for future readjustments and regrouping no need to search for pretexts for political bashing."

The senior foreign representative was Greek Foreign Ministry Chairman Dr. Constantine Papadopoulos, who mentioned that three years ago Israeli firemen assisted in fire extinguishing efforts in his Greece, and expressed support of the institutionalization of a mutual aid mechanism between nations.

"We are much stronger when we are united," he said. "We don't know when or under what circumstances we might need our friends, the time must be used in order to strengthen and deepen our relationship and mutual cooperation."

The inquiry issue was also the focus of a Likud party meeting. Knesset Member Miri Regev asked the prime minister: "Why isn't the government establishing an examination panel under the leadership of a judge looking into the deaths of the 43 lost in the Carmel fires. Who made the decisions, who let the the bus go into the fire? Netanyahu's response: "I heard you".

The prime minister said that two issues were being dealt with at the moment: "Ground fire services preparedness and aerial preparedness, including establishing an aerial fire services squadron. I asked the comptroller to continue his examinations".

Following the prime minister's statements on Monday, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz blamed the firefighters: "there is a lot of waste, efficiency must be increased."

Attila Somfalvi and Roni Sofer contributed to this report

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