Mishap Highlights Security Gaps in Israeli Schools

The city of Ma'alot-Tarshiha currently lacks an education security coordinator, a critical role responsible for approving school trips and conducting preliminary site surveys. The previous coordinator, Eldad Vaknin, resigned earlier this month, alleging that the mayor disregarded security protocols and permitted unauthorized staff entry into student areas. Vaknin stated he refused to "cut corners" and instead faced pressure to silence him.

According to reports, a preliminary site survey was not conducted before a trip to Ramim Ridge, where a student was killed by a UXO explosion. This lack of a survey is attributed to the absence of a security coordinator to perform the task. Vaknin had previously identified serious deficiencies and the employment of individuals without proper authorization at the school.

The incident occurred during a trip by students from the Orot Ma'alot high school to Ramim Ridge in the Upper Galilee. A ninth-grade student, Elazar Yair Wilensky, found a Hezbollah cluster munition, carried it for two hours, and it detonated, killing him and injuring 24 others, including students and teachers.

An investigation into the incident is underway, with the police examining the circumstances. The Ministry of Education stated that the approved route did not include the area where the explosion occurred, and that they adhered to restrictions set by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) prohibiting entry due to war damage. The JNF, however, asserted they were not involved in approving the trip and that entry was forbidden, though only warning signs, not physical barriers, were present.

Students on the trip reported receiving no warnings about unexploded ordnance. The investigation is also looking into how the students accessed the restricted area, despite the entire trip having been pre-approved by the IDF.