Minutes after a national ceremony honoring Ethiopian Jews who died trying to reach Israel, yesterday, the memorial in Jerusalem was badly damaged in front of stunned onlookers
As the ceremony concluded, firefighting aircraft were seen circling overhead, triggering panic among attendees. The aircraft were battling a brush fire that broke out by the western edge of the capital. But it became clear that the monument caught fire, apparently from memorial candles lit by the families.
Guests who came to pay their respects unsuccessfully tried to put out the fire. themselves.
Authorities are investigating how the fire started. The monument included space for memorial candles. According to the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption, 20 new names were recently inscribed.
