Israel to indict officer over death of settler archaeologist who crossed into Lebanon

Israeli military prosecutors have announced plans to indict a senior officer over his role in the deaths of an extremist settler and an Israeli soldier during last year's war and invasion of southern Lebanon.

Col. (res.) Yoav Yarom, the former chief of staff of the Golani Brigade, has been formally notified that he faces charges after allowing 71-year-old West Bank settler Ze'ev Erlich to accompany troops into a combat zone on 20 November 2024.

A soldier, Gur Kehati, was also killed in the same incident, while Yarom himself was injured.

The decision to press charges comes after months of internal debate within the Israeli military, which initially tried to downplay Erlich's presence in Lebanon, Israeli media reported.

Yarom had resigned from his post shortly after the incident, but the army has now confirmed he will face a hearing before indictment.

According to the military's own investigation, Yarom gave Erlich access to the battlefield without proper authorisation. Erlich was filmed in full Israeli military uniform before joining Yarom and his troops near the Lebanese village of Shamaa.

Soon after, Hezbollah fighters ambushed the group, killing both Erlich and Kehati.

The case has raised serious questions for the Israeli army, which has faced criticism for allowing a civilian settler known for advancing nationalist claims to embed with combat units.

Despite acknowledging that Erlich had no clearance to be there, the military later announced he would be recognised as a "fallen soldier" and was granted a military funeral.

No details have been given on the specific charges Yarom could face, but they are expected to focus on negligence and breaches of military procedure.

The incident took place just days before a temporary ceasefire deal came into effect in southern Lebanon, at a time when Israel was escalating its ground operations across the Tyre district as part of its push to carve out what it called a "buffer zone".

Hezbollah fighters mounted fierce resistance, preventing Israeli forces from advancing far beyond border villages.

Erlich's death drew particular anger in Lebanon after it emerged he was a long-time settler from the occupied West Bank who had co-founded the settlement of Ofra.

He had a history of promoting pseudo-historical claims about the so-called "Land of Israel" and was reportedly in Lebanon to search for ruins to back Israeli territorial ambitions.

Lebanon's Culture Minister Mohammad Wissam al-Murtada condemned his presence in Shamaa as an attempt to rewrite history under military protection.

"Israel is not satisfied with occupying Palestine’s land, history, and heritage. It now seeks to seize Lebanon’s land, history, and heritage," al-Murtada said at the time.

The shrine of Shamoun al-Safa, which Erlich visited alongside Yarom, is revered by both Christians and Shia Muslims. Lebanese officials and residents accused Israel of desecrating the site after troops detonated parts of a nearby Crusader fortress during the invasion.