At trial, ex-head of Bnei Zion academy apologizes for deaths of 10 students in flood

Yuval Kahan speaks of his shame and regret, but maintains negligent homicide charge against him is unfounded

By ToI Staff 14 September 2022, 10:51 am

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Yuval Kahan, who was the head of the Bnei Zion pre-military academy school at the time of the Tzafit riverbed hiking disaster, arrives for a hearing at the Beersheba District Court, September 13, 2022. (Flash90)

The former head of the Bnei Zion premilitary academy, on trial over a 2018 desert hike in which 10 teenage students were swept to their deaths by a flash flood, apologized Tuesday in court.

“I’m ashamed. I’m sorry. I’m full of regret. I apologize for a disaster that happened under my responsibility, and with my direct involvement,” said Yuval Kahan, who was charged with negligent homicide.

“I ask for forgiveness for a disaster in which two trainees whom I loved and esteemed were killed,” Kahan told the Beersheba District Court. “A disaster in which the granddaughter of someone who worked day and night with me for 11 years in the preparatory school was killed, and who sent her granddaughter on this trip and did not get her back.”

He noted that among those who died was the cousin of a person who founded the preparatory school with him, and said never got to know the other six victims.

Yet Kahan maintained his defense that the charge against him is unfounded and does not match what actually transpired during the preparations for the hike, or on the day itself.

“If the indictment had reflected reality I guess things would have been different,” he told the court.

Kahan’s defense attorney said the indictment is “entirely unfounded and shows a distorted image” of what happened.

A composite photo of victims of a flash flood in southern Israel on April 27, 2018. Ilan Bar Shalom (TL), Shani Shamir (TC), Agam Levy (TR), Romi Cohen (ML), Tzur Alfi (MC), Ella Or (MR), Gali Balali (BL), Maayan Barhum (BC), Yael Sadan (BR) (Facebook/courtesy)

Nine girls and one boy were killed when the group was hit by flash floods in the Tzafit riverbed in the southern Dead Sea area.

A counselor at the academy, Aviv Bardichev, who received direct warnings about the weather, is facing charges of manslaughter.

According to the charge sheet, Bnei Zion administrators took a group of 25 students on a hike near the Dead Sea despite receiving numerous warnings about the severe weather.

Bardichev is alleged to have changed the route of the trip from the Tze’elim stream to the Tzafit stream despite being warned by a weather forecasting company to avoid the area due to expected flooding.

Kahan, meanwhile, allegedly knew about the route change but chose to trust Bardichev’s judgment, and ignored warnings of heavy rain and severe weather conditions.