Dispute Erupts Over Responsibility for Deadly School Trip Accident

A dispute has emerged between the Ministry of Education and the Jewish National Fund (JNF) regarding responsibility for a deadly accident during a school trip in the Upper Galilee. Minister of Education Yoav Kisch claimed the JNF was involved in approving the route, stating it did not pass through a prohibited area. However, the JNF denied any involvement in approving the trip, asserting that entry to the area had been forbidden.

Despite concerns about unexploded ordnance in the area, the IDF also approved the trip. The accident occurred when students walked with an unexploded munition for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours before it detonated during a prayer stop. The incident killed ninth-grader Elazar Yair Wilensky and injured 24 others, including students and teachers from the Ort Ma'alot middle school.

The Ministry of Education stated that it operated within the JNF's limitations and prohibited activity in the area due to war damage, adding that the route itself was not in a forbidden zone. They also emphasized that explicit safety instructions, including a ban on touching ordnance and a requirement to report it immediately, were provided.

The JNF, meanwhile, had prohibited travel in the area due to infrastructure issues, such as unpaved roads and trees, not security concerns. Although signs indicating the prohibition were posted, no physical barriers were erected. A JNF security official for the Upper Galilee noted that work in the area had concluded a month prior.

Students participating in the trip reported receiving no warnings about unexploded ordnance. They stated that teachers and guides did not mention the possibility of encountering such items in an area that had recently seen combat. Investigations by the IDF, police, and the Ministry of Education are underway to determine the full circumstances of the event.