Conflicting Guidelines Behind Unexploded Ordnance Disaster: New Details Emerge

Following a fatal accident involving unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the Ramim Ridge area that claimed the life of teenager Yair Wilensky, new documents reveal a concerning lack of clear guidelines and direction from authorities regarding approved tours in northern Israel. The Ministry of Education's situation room approved a tour itinerary named "Israel Trail 2051," which connected two entirely different parallel trails, one of which was closed due to war damage. The accident occurred near the entrance to Kibbutz Galed, where two parallel trails begin. One is the "Israel Trail," marked orange-blue-white, and the other, known on maps as "Trail 2051" or "Ramim Ridge Scenic Route," is a paved path marked green. These trails diverge for 7.5 kilometers before merging near Ein Kura spring. The short distance between them, combined with contradictory Ministry of Education instructions, led to the disaster. The group was authorized to travel from Kibbutz Galed to the shepherds' dwellings via a route designated as "Israel Trail 2051." However, the approval also noted that "Ramim Ridge Scenic Route 2051" was closed due to war damage repairs. The KKL-JNF website also indicated the green-marked paved route was closed. The school stated the group followed its designated route. The trail in question had been recently restored and re-marked but was not officially open. Despite this, thousands of families had hiked the route during the High Holidays and intermediate days without explicit warnings about UXO. A KKL-JNF sign at the site only mentioned closure due to war damage, not UXO danger. Senior tour guides criticized the Ministry of Education's approval mechanisms, citing a lack of understanding of the terrain. One guide told Ynet, "It cannot be that Trail 2051 is approved, but it is approved with limitations, so is it approved or not approved? If these are different trails, they should have been treated as different." He added that while the guide might have been expected to ask clarifying questions, the ultimate responsibility lies with the Ministry of Education for overall management. Tour guides explained that the core issue is the disconnect between the air-conditioned offices and the dangers on the ridge, which was under Hezbollah fire for over two years. The Ministry of Education stated it acted according to KKL-JNF limitations and prohibited activity in the area due to war damage, asserting the planned route was not in a forbidden zone. Explicit safety instructions, including a strict prohibition on touching ordnance and a requirement to report it immediately, were provided. The circumstances of the incident and the actual route taken are under investigation by the IDF and police, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and relevant professional bodies. The Ministry of Education will continue to review tour approval procedures and safety guidelines.