Funeral held for teen boy, ‘full of life,’ who was killed in Hezbollah munitions blast

Elazar Yair Wilensky, 13, was buried Wednesday after being killed by an unexploded Hezbollah submunition during a school hike near the Lebanon border. The explosion also wounded 24 students and teachers. Education Minister Yoav Kisch vowed answers, as questions emerged about why the group was hiking in a restricted area.

Elazar Yair Wilensky, a 13-year-old student at the ORT Ma'alot yeshiva high school, was buried Wednesday in Moshav Hosen after being killed by an unexploded Hezbollah submunition during a school hike. The explosion occurred Monday around 3:30 p.m. on the Naftali Mountains Forest scenic route in the Ramim Ridge area. A preliminary investigation indicated students found the submunition from a Hezbollah Grad rocket and passed it between them; one placed it in his bag, and it later exploded. 24 students and teachers were wounded. At the funeral, his mother Yehudit said his life was "too short, but it was so full and beautiful." Education Minister Yoav Kisch vowed the family would receive answers, amid questions about why the group was hiking in a restricted area. A KKL-JNF sign warned of "war damage" and an "absolute ban on entering forests." The incident prompted an investigation and a request for the IDF to check all trails along the Lebanon border for ordnance.