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Bnei Zion pre-military academy

Rescue forces near the scene where young Israelis were swept away in the flooding of the Tzafit riverbed near the Dead Sea in southern Israel, on April 26, 2018. (Maor Kinsbursky/Flash90)
April 22, 2025, 12:07 pm
Educators sentenced to 7 years over deaths of 10 students in flash flood disaster
Judge links 2018 Tzafit riverbed incident to Oct. 7 massacre, saying those responsible must shoulder the blame for such disasters; father of victim says prison terms too lenient
By Jeremy Sharon
Rescue forces near the scene where 10 young Israelis were swept to their deaths in flash floods in the Tzafit riverbed, near the Dead Sea in southern Israel, on April 26, 2018. (Maor Kinsbursky/Flash90)
October 28, 2019, 5:22 pm
Former educators charged over fatal hike in flooded riverbed
Ex-director and counselor of Bnei Zion academy accused of ignoring repeated weather warnings and refusing to cancel trip during flash flood season, resulting in deaths of 10 teens
By ToI Staff
Yuval Kahan. (Courtesy: Bnei Zion pre-military academy)
March 1, 2019, 9:03 pm
Academy head charged over flood deaths likens his legal woes to Netanyahu’s
Parents of students who died on hike with pre-military academy berate Yuval Kahan over Facebook post. One writes: ‘If you were a human you would need to kill yourself’
By ToI Staff
A composite photo of the 10 victims of a flash flood in southern Israel on April 27, 2018. Top row, left to right: Romi Cohen, Ilan Bar Shalom, Shani Shamir, Adi Raanan, Agam Levy. Bottom row, left to right: Yael Sadan, Maayan Barhum, Tzur Alfi, Gali Balali, Ella Or. (Courtesy/Facebook)
February 27, 2019, 10:50 am
Academy head, counselor to be charged with manslaughter in flood deaths
10 students were killed during ill-planned hike last April; police had recommended Bnei Zion director Yuval Kahan face lesser charges
By ToI Staff
Survivors of the flash flood that killed 10 teens in southern Israel in April 2018 return to the site of the deadly hike (Screenshot/Hadashot news)
June 30, 2018, 3:44 am
Survivors of deadly flash flood return to complete hike, pay tribute to victims
Schoolmates come back two months after 10 teens were killed when the pre-military academy that organized the hike ignored warnings of flooding in the Dead Sea region
By ToI Staff
Military helicopters search for missing teens swept away in the flooding of the Tzafit River, a riverbed near the Dead Sea in southern Israel, on April 26, 2018. (Maor Kinsbursky/Flash90)
June 28, 2018, 2:37 pm
Report: Despite flood deaths, pre-military schools may not see tighter oversight
Committee set up to investigate Tzafit disaster, in which 10 died, said not to force academies to adhere to Education Ministry’s situation room during field trips
By ToI Staff
People seen outside the Bnei Zion pre-military academy in Tel Aviv, from which 10 youths were killed in a flash flood in the Judean Desert, on April 27, 2018. (Tomer Neuberg/ Flash90)
June 7, 2018, 7:26 pm
Academy that organized fatal hike closing for year to ‘start over’
Board of Bnei Zion urges pre-army school to rebuild public trust with ‘transparency’ after 10 teens killed by flash floods during a school trip in April
By ToI Staff
Yuval Kahan. (Courtesy: Bnei Zion pre-military academy)
May 13, 2018, 4:43 pm
Police recommend academy head, counselor be charged over flood disaster
Bnei Zion academy director could be charged with negligent homicide while counselor could face harsher charge of manslaughter over 10 students killed during hike
By ToI Staff
Friends and family mourn near the fresh grave of Ella Or during her funeral in Mishor Adumim on April 27, 2018. Or was one of 10 Israeli teens killed in a flash flood on April 26, 2018 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 2, 2018, 3:02 pm
Academy head resigns under cloud of suspicion over flood disaster
Yuval Kahan says he is ‘torn and broken’ in wake of desert hike in which 10 high school students were killed
By ToI Staff
Israeli teens light candles at a vigil at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square on April 28, 2018, in memory of the 10 victims killed in a flash flood while hiking in the Judean Desert. (Screen capture/YouTube)
May 1, 2018, 8:30 am
Academy head, instructor suspected in flood disaster released to house arrest
Yuval Kahan and Aviv Bardichev of Bnei Zion say they will speak directly to the families of the 10 students killed
By ToI Staff
Volunteers from the ZAKA emergency response service transport the bodies of Israeli teenagers killed in a flash flood near the Dead Sea on April 26, 2018. (ZAKA)
April 30, 2018, 6:18 pm
Tour guide in desert flood deaths may face manslaughter charges
Aviv Bardichev of the Bnei Zion pre-military academy reportedly received more specific weather warnings than academy head Yuval Kahan, but ignored them
By ToI Staff
People seen outside the Bnei Zion pre-military academy in Tel Aviv, from which 10 youths were killed in a flash flood in the Judean Desert, on April 27, 2018. (Tomer Neuberg/ Flash90)
April 29, 2018, 9:48 pm
Pre-military academy head in ‘agony’ over 10 youths killed in flood
State comptroller opens investigation into deadly hike, as police said to obtain incriminating evidence against academy head, tour guide
By ToI Staff
Police stand outside the Bnei Zion pre-army academy in Tel Aviv, from which 10 incoming students were killed in a flash flood in the Judean Desert, on April 26, 2018. (Miriam Alster/ Flash90)
April 29, 2018, 3:00 pm
Police raid offices of pre-military academy over flood deaths, seize computers
Authorities suspect detained organizers of deadly Judean Desert hike tried to obstruct investigation by coordinating testimonies
By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff
People light candles as they take part in a memorial ceremony in remembrance of 10 Israeli teens who lost their lives when they were caught in a flood in a riverbed near the Dead Sea, at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, on April 28, 2018. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
April 29, 2018, 1:19 pm
10 teens killed in flood were ‘300 meters’ from safety, says rescuer
‘Five minutes later’ and the youths swept away in deluge would have made it out of ravine, firefighter asserts. ‘Anyone who survived was touched by the hand of God’
By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff
Flood disaster victims to be laid to rest on April 29, 2018, from left to right: Adi Raanan, Gali Balali, Romi Cohen (Courtesy)
April 29, 2018, 10:58 am
Families, friends prepare to bury last 3 victims killed in flash flood
Funerals for Romi Cohen, Gali Balali, and Adi Raanan to be held in their home communities, following burials Friday of 7 of 10 pre-military academy students
By ToI Staff
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