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Einav Barmi, Yaron Barmi's widow
Photo: Roee Idan
Olga Ohana, Kfir Ohana's widow
Photo: Herzel Yosef
Prime Minister Netanyahu - changed his mind?
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Carmel fire victims' families: Bibi is scared

Prime minister will attend Knesset State Control Committee meeting on Fire Services' status prior to disaster in spite of earlier reports. Families claim 'he continues to ignore us'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attend a State Control Committee meeting on Monday despite earlier reports suggesting he was reconsidering his attendance for fear of a confrontation with families of the Carmel fire disaster victims.

 

Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu said he was reconsidering his attendance at a meeting regarding the Fire Services' preparedness in the months preceding the Carmel fire.

 

The decision sparked outrage among the families of the fire victims. "He (Netanyahu) shouldn't leave his house," Olga Ohana, the widow of one of the prison guards killed in the Carmel fire, told Ynet.

 

The prime minister had been invited to attend a meeting by Chairman of the State Control Committee Knesset Member Yoel Hasson (Kadima), and expressed his willingness to stand before the committee.

 

However, the Prime Minister's Office told Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin on Sunday that Netanyahu was reconsidering his participation over concerns that he might become involved in an embarrassing incident with the victims' families.

 

A Prime Minister's Office statement noted that "the prime minister was invited to the State Control Committee meeting following the State Comptroller's report into the status of the Fire Services. It must be noted that the report doesn't address the Carmel fire. 


Commotion during fire memorial event (Photo: AP)

 

"Committee Chairman Yoel Hasson asked to invite the bereaved families to the meeting despite there being no connection between the meeting and the fire. The Prime Minister's Office requested that the arrival of the families' representatives be coordinated in order to hold a serious discussion on the matter and the committee is considering the issue.

 

But following assurances from Hasson, the two reached an agreement that the meeting would be held without interruptions and that the prime minister would be able to meet with the families in his office.

 

'Bibi avoiding us'

"I think the prime minister needs to be at the meeting," Ohana said. "If I could attend, I would want to see Netanyahu. I'd ask him why he's preventing the establishment of a state commission of inquiry. What is he avoiding? I'm dying to know what he'll say, though I know I won't be getting any unambiguous answers."

 

The widow went on to add: "We know why he's avoiding us – because the moment a state committee of inquiry in established, many people will have to go home and they want to hold on to their seats – in any way possible."

 

Unlike the prime minister, Yaron Barami's family, who during the fire disaster memorial event verbally attacked Minister Eli Yishai, are planning on attending the meeting. "Bibi is zigzagging – he's scared," said Einav Barami, Yaron's widow. "Instead of telling the victims' families the truth, Netanyahu decided to bury plans for a state commission of inquiry while the families were sitting Shiva in order to avoid protests," she added.   


Families demand investigation (Photo: Avi Moalem)

 

Yehoshua Peretz, father of Ronen, wasn't in the least surprised to hear that Netanyahu might not show up for the meeting. "Sadly, Netanyahu continues to ignore us, it isn't a coincidence that he won't be there. He doesn't want to answer questions that remain unanswered and there are plenty of those," Peretz noted.

 

David Jorno, whose son Hagai was killed in the fire, sounds surprisingly forgiving when talking about the prime minister. "No one could have prevented this disaster," he says. "I want to meet the prime minister and show my support for his performance during and after the disaster. This disaster came from the heavens. We, the families received a heavy blow but that is also from the heavens. How will claims and allegations help us?" 

Ilana Curiel, Shmulik Haddad, Hagai Einav, Tova Dadon Roni Sofer and Ahiya Raved contributed to this report

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.06.11, 22:51
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