Cabinet defers vote of fallen firefighters

Government Secretariat informs Interior Minister Yishai that cabinet will not debate motion to declare firemen killed in Carmel fire as Israel's fallen. Yishai: Grief cannot be subjected to double standards

Attila Somfalvi|Published: 05.08.11 , 10:33

The government has decided to defer its vote on whether to recognized three firefighters who died in the Carmel fire as Israel's fallen.

December's fire, which raged for four days and nights, claimed 44 lives, forced the evacuation of nearly 17,000 people and consumed 8,650 acres of land and natural forest.

The Government Secretariat informed Interior Minister Eli Yishai, who initiated the move, that the cabinet will not discuss the matter during its Sunday meeting, since Defense Minister Ehud Barak – whose ministry is directly responsible for the issue – objects to the move.

Yishai was reportedly infuriated by the decision, telling associates, "This is outrageous. The State Prosecutor's Office sent those firefighters on that mission. Grief cannot be subjected to double standards."

The Carmel Fire (Photo: AFP)

The defense establishment said that the issue of recognizing firefighters as members of security forces killed in the line of duty "Must be studied in depth without rushing to conclusions prompted by the narrow political calculations of ministers who are trying to temper public criticism over their handling of the Fire and Rescue Services."

At the beginning of Sunday's cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the ministers that he has tasked a special committee with exploring the proper way to commemorate faller firefighters.

"I wish to commemorate them in a proper, worthy way, befitting of their sacrifice. The government recognized firefighters' families' special status in 2010, and they are allotted the same right as fallen soldiers' families.

"Commemoration is painful, sensitive matter, which commands a serious and responsible approach. Since this matter is regulated by law and requires additional legislation, I will task a committee, headed by the justice minister, to formulate such legislation within 60 days," he said.

Yishai said he regretted the cabinet's decision to defer the vote, saying the matter "has been blown out of proportion."

As for the accusations – voiced by several ministers – that his motion was meant to "clear the conscience of those responsible for the (fire's) failures," Yishai said: "Where are all of those ministers? If they have something to say, they should say openly. They should pick up the phone and call the bereaved families and hear what they want to be done."

The Yad Le Banim organization, which is exclusively responsible for the commemoration of those who gave their life in the service of Israel, welcomed the government's decision, saying that while "We feel for the firefighters' families, but the government did the right thing.

"The government has shown due sensitivity and sensibility, as required when dealing with such as issue. These kinds of decisions must be made studiously."