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Photo: Reuters
State earmarks mass grave sites in case of national disaster
Israel's National Planning and Building Board earmarks eight sites for mass burial in case of nationwide catastrophe
Israel's National Planning and Building Board ruled Tuesday to designate eight sites across Israel as mass burial sites in case of a nationwide disaster, such as a catastrophic earthquake.
The Board's dire premise is that such a quake will result in thousands of fatalities, regardless of its geographic epicenter.
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Another work premise is that in case of a nationwide mass casualty event authorities would be unable to accommodate timely burial, due to foreseen problems with identifying remains and the need to clear bodies in order to thwart the speared of disease.
Nevertheless, the National Planning and Building Board stresses mass burial would be a temporary measure, adding that DNA samples would be taken from each fatality for future identification and proper burial.
According to the Board, there is no halachic prevention for the measure.
The eight designated sites, which span from Rosh Pinna in Israel's north, to Beersheba in its south, can each entomb 3,000 individuals. The sites were chosen after being deemed topographically suitable.
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