The release of Minister of Education Rabbi Rafi Peretz’s plan to expand school trips to Jewish heritage sites in the territories caused a huge uproar in the ministry, which spilled over into politics. The minister envisions students visiting Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, Shiloh River, Harasha Mountain and other sites across the Green Line. In response, Director General of the Ministry of Education Shmuel Abuav claims that Peretz has no authority to make such a decision, and that final approval for these trips must come from the security forces. Politicians are now responding with everything from congratulations “on this historic decision” (from the right) to sharp condemnation (from the left).
A closer look found that both the praise and condemnation were excessive. Though Peretz announced the plan on Aug. 20, the policy had been implemented in the educational system several years ago. The question is whether students, who visited the Tomb of the Patriarchs at age 15, will come to reject peace in the future as a result of these field trips? Will Israeli youth be able to visit these sites without seeing them through a political lens?
