National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced he will hold a security assessment with police and fire officials on Monday, following a deadly incident in a kindergarten in Jerusalem.
Ben-Gvir canceled his scheduled press conference at the Knesset to conduct the assessment.
Two toddlers were killed, while some 55 sustained injuries in the incident at the kindergarten in the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Romema neighborhood. The case is still under investigation.
Politicians from across the political spectrum, including both coalition and opposition figures, responded to the incident.
Shas chairperson Arye Deri said that "deep soul searching was required" because the haredi community had been "suddenly pushed into distress."
"Who can say, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood’? When a very large population is suddenly pushed into distress, people are forced to look for alternative solutions, and the consequences can be severe and bitter," he said.
Liberman: How many illegal kindergartens like this exist?
Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman sent his condolences to the community in Romema while questioning how the event had been allowed to occur.
"We need to understand when this kindergarten was founded. How many illegal kindergartens like this exist?" he asked.
“Anyone who shifts responsibility onto someone else is himself responsible.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), said that he "wished a speedy recovery to the infants who were injured."
Lapid added that "the death of children is horrific and heartbreaking, and must not be dragged into any political debate.”
The Democrats Party chairperson, Yair Golan, said, “The heart is torn in the face of the unimaginable tragedy in Jerusalem. The deaths of two tender toddlers are an endless pain, a hole torn into the souls of us all."
Laura Wharton, a Jerusalem city council member, told The Jerusalem Post that the incident was "another sign of how important it is that the authorities inspect and regulate what goes on in the city."
"I think this terrible tragedy must be a turning point for reaching out, exercising the city's responsibility and the government's responsibility for overseeing the care of all the residents, and especially the children," Wharton added.
Jerusalem's municipality told the Post that the incident was "a major tragedy," adding that the kindergarten was unlicensed, unapproved, and unregulated.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch said that he instructed the Education Ministry to establish an inter-ministerial task force to formulate a systemic plan to "identify, enforce against, and shut down private facilities operating illegally."
He added that the task force would be run in cooperation with the police, local authorities, the State Attorney’s Office, and additional bodies.