Responding to criticism over Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar's initiative to start school field trips to Hebron, Sa'ar's issued an official statement staying "Recognitionand familiaritywith the historyof Israel'srootsin Israelis an important part of educationand isimportant to the futureof Israel. There have been attempts to denyour heritage here, and our historyin Israel, butour dutyis tothetruth. "