According to the report, the causes of the bridge disaster were flawed design, negligent execution by people without experience or qualification, poor liaison, lack of control, and inferior materials. There are no recommendations concerning penalties.
The committee investigating the disaster of the collapsed bridge at the opening ceremony of the 15th Maccabiah games this evening (Wednesday) submitted its conclusions.
The committee finds that the main causes of the disaster were: "partly flawed design not in line with the required standards; erection of the bridge by manufacturers without experience or qualifications in bridge building, who constructed it in a negligent manner and below any accepted standard; poor liaison between the contractors and the engineer; complete lack of any system of planning and control; execution of the work in complete absence of any programme of work or practical instructions; use of low grade materials; reliance on pre-fabricated parts from stock which entailed highly problematic design."
The committee emphasised that none of the people concerned saw himself as fully responsible for erecting the bridge and for verifying that it was fit for use. Each of those involved relied on others to ensure that the bridge would be completely fit for its purpose.
The committee finds that: "The organising committee’s lack of supervision of the process of building the bridge, and the fact that it accepted a sub-standard bridge with a certification which was really only partial, stemmed from lack of the technical engineering skill required for supervision of the building process and for inspection of the finished product. It is recommended that this facility be established, either as a permanent part of the existing set-up, or by hiring the services of expert consultants as required in each case."