The Mayor of Jerusalem faced growing calls yesterday to resign over the collapse of a wedding hall that killed 23 people as authorities investigated the cause of the tragedy amid allegations of corruption and negligence.
Nine people have been remanded in custody, while Israelis buried another seven victims yesterday.
Rescuers on Saturday called off a round-the-clock search of the ruins of the building in the industrial area of Talpiot, which collapsed during a wedding party on Thursday evening.
Seven men arrested on manslaughter charges were remanded for five days by a Jerusalem court on Saturday night.
"Olmert Must Go," was the headline on the local Jerusalem weekly Kol Hair, saying the Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr Ehud Olmert - a member of the Likud Party of the Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon - must bear the responsibility.
But Mr Olmert told Ma'ariv: "I have not thought about resigning at any time. I have a clear conscience."
Seven of the victims were buried yesterday, including a couple due to be married next month who were found among the rubble embracing each other, while 130 injured people remained in hospital, eight in serious condition.
Gen Gabi Ophir called off the search of the rubble after less than 48 hours, saying all wedding guests and workers had been accounted for and that the risk of imminent collapse of the roof on emergency workers was too great.
Only two days after the tragedy, at least 35 people were injured, including two seriously, in Haifa when fans invaded a football pitch minutes before the end of a match.