Israel Blames ‘Discipline Lapse’ in Death of Archaeologist Crossing into Lebanon

The Israeli military has attributed the death of a 70-year-old archaeologist and another soldier in southern Lebanon to “operational burnout” and a “weakening of discipline and safety” during a visit to a combat zone in November.

Zeev Erlich, who was not on active duty at the time, was wearing a military uniform and carrying a weapon when he was shot. Although he was not actively serving, the army classified him as a reservist with the rank of major and referred to him as a “fallen soldier.” Erlich was a well-known figure in the West Bank, recognized for his work in Jewish history. Reports suggested that he had entered Lebanon to explore an archaeological site. The family of the soldier killed alongside him has expressed frustration over the circumstances surrounding his death.

Following the incident, the Israeli military launched an investigation, with a separate inquiry focusing on how Erlich was permitted to enter the combat zone. While the military stressed that the entry of civilians, who are not military contractors or journalists, into such areas is rare, there have been previous reports of Israeli civilians, particularly those in favor of a permanent Israeli presence in Gaza or Lebanon, accessing these regions.