Following the incident, the Chief of Staff ordered the establishment of a team of experts to examine and strengthen operational discipline in combat (Army and Security.)
The investigator, Jabo Erlich, who entered southern Lebanon as a civilian, was killed by Hezbollah fire. The military police have opened an investigation into the incident - another IDF soldier was killed in the incident, and the chief of staff of the Golani Brigade, who is considered a brave officer, was injured for the third time - and he might pay the price for the oversight.
During an encounter with terrorists in an ancient fortress in southern Lebanon, Golani soldier Sergeant Gur Katzi, may his memory be blessed, was killed by Hezbollah fire, as was released for publication this morning (Thursday), as well as Israeli archaeologist Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Ze'ev (Jabo) Henoch Ehrlich. Following this, the military police opened an investigation into the incident, in which a civilian entered Lebanon.
The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzl Halevi, appointed today, following the incident, a team of experts to examine and strengthen operational discipline and military culture in combat, headed by Major General (Res.) Moti Baruch, following the event in which Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Ze'ev (Jabo) Hanuch Ehrlich, of blessed memory, fell in battle in southern Lebanon.
The team will focus on forming a detailed situation report regarding the adherence to operational discipline, military orders and procedures, codes of conduct, and the norms practiced in the military units on the two main fronts of combat - North and South.
Additionally, the team will examine how proper military culture is implemented in the fighting units in the aforementioned sectors and will formulate practical recommendations to strengthen discipline and military culture in combat in general. The team will conduct operational learning with an emphasis on aspects of discipline and military culture from the event of the entry of Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Ze'ev (Jabo) Hanuch Erlich, may his memory be blessed, into the combat zone on November 20, 2024.
The team will commence its activities immediately and will submit its recommendations to the Chief of Staff in about two weeks from today. At the same time, the team will conduct the command investigation under the leadership of the Northern Command Commander, Major General Uri Gordin.
At the same time, as mentioned, the military police have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident during which Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Ze'ev (Jabo) Hanuch Ehrlich, of blessed memory, was brought to a combat zone and fell there. At its conclusion, its findings will be submitted for review by the military prosecution.
According to the report on Walla, the Chief of Staff of the Golani Brigade, Colonel (Res.) Yoav Yarum, was moderately injured in this incident - this is the third time he has been injured in operational activity during his years in the army.
The head of the Golani Brigade's staff is currently at the center of the investigation and may also pay the price and be dismissed from the position due to the severe consequences of the event.
In the incident, as you may recall, Sergeant Gur Kahati, 20 years old from the Negev settlement of Nir Banim, a fighter in the 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade, was also killed. He was the soldier who fell in the battle at the archaeological fortress in southern Lebanon. The IDF spokesperson announced a short while ago (Thursday) that he was posthumously promoted.
The two fallen soldiers began surveying an ancient fortress near a mosque at a high point on the ridge, unaware that two terrorists had been hiding there in recent days. Their goal was likely to discover suspicious or historically valuable spaces in the fortress located in Lebanese territory.
The two terrorists opened fire at close range - Varlich and Kahati were killed. Another fighter was seriously injured, and retired Colonel Yaron was moderately injured.
Ze'ev (Jabo) Erlich, may his memory be a blessing, a researcher of the Land of Israel, joined the fighters in southern Lebanon yesterday (Wednesday) and was unfortunately killed. He was 71 years old at the time of his fall. May his name be remembered.
Z'abu, who was killed yesterday in Lebanon, was one of the oldest residents of the settlement Ofra in Benjamin, married to Tamar and a grandfather to grandchildren. He was a distinguished researcher in the field of the study of the Land of Israel and its settlement.
