Israel's Education Ministry Resumes Northern Field Trips After Safety Review

Israel's Ministry of Education announced on Thursday the resumption of educational field trips in the north of the country, lifting a previous freeze. The decision follows clarification from the IDF that there has been no change in travel policy for the region. Trips will proceed according to established protocols, requiring approval from the Tourism Coordination Bureau and adherence to the Ministry of Education's situation room guidelines. Concurrently, the Education Minister has directed a review and reinforcement of safety instructions across the entire education system. Emphasis has been placed on the strict prohibition of touching unexploded ordnance, ammunition, or suspicious objects, and the immediate reporting of such findings to the relevant authorities.

Regarding a recent incident during a trip organized by the Yeshivat Ma'alot, the Ministry stated that the approved route met all required standards and did not include restricted sections. However, an investigation into the circumstances of the event, including the actual path taken, is ongoing. The Ministry explained that some trip leaders, including the guide, were injured, necessitating further examination alongside a police investigation. In addition to the professional review by the Ministry's security department and the police investigation, the Education Minister has tasked the Ministry's comptroller with conducting a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. The Ministry pledged to transparently release the findings of these investigations as they progress, subject to investigative limitations. The Ministry also expressed condolences to the family of Elazar Yair Wilansky, who was killed in the incident, and wished for the recovery of those injured.