Erez Gerstein

Erez Gerstein (Hebrew: ארז גרשטיין‎; March 13, 1960 – February 28, 1999) was an Israeli Brigadier General (Tat Aluf) who commanded the Israel Defense Forces Lebanon Liaison Unit and was killed by Hezbollah.[1]

Erez Gerstein
Native name
ארז גרשטיין
BornIsrael
DiedSouth Lebanon
Allegiance Israel
Service/branchIsrael Defense Forces
Years of service1979–1999
RankTat Aluf (Brigadier general)
UnitGolani Brigade
Commands heldGolani Brigade's 51 battalion, Regional Brigade in South Lebanon, Golani Brigade, the Lebanon of Israel Defense Forces
Battles/wars

Early life

Gerstein was born in Afula, and was the eldest of three children. His mother, Shula Kishik, was an immigrant from Syria, and his father, Rafael Gerstein, was from Argentina. He was raised in kibbutz Reshafim, where he attended elementary and high school. He spent a Service Year volunteering on kibbutz Harel before his military service.

Military service

Gerstein was drafted into the IDF in 1979, and volunteered for the Shayetet 13 naval commando force, but was dismissed after a year, and did his military service in the Golani Brigade. He served as a soldier, a squad leader in the brigade's reconnaissance company. In 1981 he became an infantry officer after completing Officer Candidate School and return to the Golani Brigade. In the 1982 Lebanon War he served as a platoon leader in the reconnaissance company and fought at the Battle of the Beaufort. Gerstein was injured during the battle but stayed on until the fighting was done. In February 1983, he left the army as a company commander, and in June of that year, he left Israel with his girlfriend on a backpacking trip throughout the Americas. He returned to Israel after a year, and joined Shin Bet, but during his training, he dropped out.

In 1985, Gerstein returned to active military service. led the Brigade's Reconnaissance company and Golani Brigade's 51 battalion in counter-guerrilla operations in South Lebanon. Afterwards he commanded a battalion in squad leader course and a Regional Brigade in South Lebanon.

In 1995 he was appointed as the commander of the Golani Brigade.[2] He married his girlfriend that same year, and they had a son in 1997. During this time, Gerstein led the brigade in a series of operations in southern Lebanon that resulted a great number of Hezbollah operatives killed. Afterwards he commanded the Lebanon Liaison Unit.[3]

On February 28, 1999, Gerstein was killed by Hezbollah. Gerstein and two Israeli soldiers, Warrant Officer Imad Abu-Rish and Staff-Sergeant Omer El-Kabetz, had been accompanying Kol Israel reporter Ilan Roeh during a brief foray into South Lebanon in an armored vehicle. An IED laid by Hezbollah exploded, killing everyone inside.[4][5]

gollark: What about the immortal ones?
gollark: With the bees?
gollark: Terrestrial bee strikes are long obsolete.
gollark: Keep believing that you're safe from orbital bee strikes.
gollark: It was 5 minutes, just not very good.

References
  1. Amir Oren, Rewriting History Is Easy, Haaretz, June 01, 2004.
  2. Uneasy days for Irish as Israel pondered revenge, The Irish Times, March 8, 1999.
  3. Amir Oren, Ready to Pay the Price, Haaretz, February 15, 2007.
  4. Avihai Becker, Generally Sensitive, Haaretz, April 24, 2002.
  5. http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/PressRoom/1999/Pages/Commander%20of%20IDF%20Lebanon-Liaison%20Unit%20and%20Three%20Ot.aspx
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