Officer asks to quit over incident in which researcher, soldier were killed in Lebanon
Golani Brigade Chief of Staff Yoav Yarom takes responsibility for incident in which civilian Zeev Erlich, 71, was allowed to enter combat zone to inspect an ancient fortress
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces’ Golani Brigade, Col. (res.) Yoav Yarom, asked to resign from his post on Monday, following an incident last week during which a civilian researcher was allowed into southern Lebanon, without the proper approvals, and was killed alongside a soldier.
Yarom had allowed researcher Zeev Erlich, 71, to enter the western sector of southern Lebanon to examine an archaeological site — an ancient fortress.
Despite the belief that the area had been cleared of threats, two Hezbollah operatives were hiding at the site and opened fire at the researcher, the senior officer, and other soldiers who were accompanying them.
Erlich and Sgt. Gur Kehati were killed in the incident. Yarom and a company commander with the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion were wounded.
In a letter to the commander of the Golani Brigade, Yarom said he was taking responsibility for the incident, despite the fact that an official investigation has not been completed, and asked to resign from the role.
Yarom said he would give his full cooperation to the investigation. However, in his letter, he claimed that the reality of the incident was different from how it had been portrayed in the media.
He did not elaborate.
In addition to the probe into the incident led by IDF Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, and a separate criminal probe by Military Police, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has appointed a general in the reserves to lead a team of experts investigating operational discipline across the military.
It is believed that Erlich entered an area in the western part of southern Lebanon to inspect an ancient fortress thought to be the burial place of an obscure disciple of Jesus, Simon the Zealot.
Erlich entered southern Lebanon armed and in IDF uniform, though he was not an active-duty soldier or a reservist.
Following his death, the military retroactively recognized Erlich as a major in the reserves, adding him to the tally of troops killed fighting against Hezbollah, despite him not being on active duty when killed.
But the military also raised questions about why he was in southern Lebanon, where ground troops have been fighting since October 1, after around a year of relentless cross-border fire.
According to a preliminary IDF probe, Yarom allowed Erlich to enter southern Lebanon to examine the fortress and accompanied him on the visit.
The IDF Spokesman’s Office said that the colonel did not have the authority to approve Erlich’s entry, and that the proper process for a civilian to enter with troops was not followed.
Erlich’s family has insisted that he had the required approval to enter the site.
The decision to recognize him as a combat casualty, which the IDF rarely does for those not serving in some capacity, was made by the new commander of the IDF Personnel Directorate, Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa.
The incident was apparently not the first time the archaeologist forayed into potentially dangerous territory for his research.
The Haaretz daily reported on Thursday that Erlich had entered Lebanon previously during the period of the IDF’s intensified campaign against Hezbollah, which began in September.
The report gave no details of the previous visits.
