The annual Lag BaOmer celebrations at Meron are now expected to be canceled due to the escalating security situation in northern Israel.

According to reports, Israel’s security force has instructed government ministries involved in organizing the event to stop preparations for the massive gathering at the kever of Rashbi. The order comes as tensions in the north continue to rise, with ongoing sirens and fears of renewed escalation.

The freeze applies to all major preparations for the public event, including planning for crowd arrivals, road closures, transportation routes, and security arrangements. The hilula had been expected to draw up to 200,000 people.

At the same time, infrastructure work at the site is reportedly continuing in order to preserve the option of holding the event if the security situation improves. But for now, officials appear to be operating under the assumption that a large public gathering in Meron is unlikely to be approved. More than 100 million shekels have already been allocated for preparations, even though officials had viewed the chances of holding the event as low from the beginning.

The development comes despite recent Trump announcing the extension of the ceasefire with Lebanon, but the northern front remains fragile.