Brigadier General Erez Gerstein was the most senior casualty of Israel’s two decade plus
war against Hezbollah. When he was killed on February 28th, 1999 by the Shiite organization, he was the commanding officer of Israel’s Lebanon division. Originally, the liaison unit with Israel’s Lebanese proxy in south Lebanon from 1985 to 2000, Yakal had become a real operating combat command by the time Gerstein died. Gerstein story offers unique window to some fascinating aspects of Israeli society, military, and war making against Hezbollah. Gerstein’s military career is Israel’s story in Lebanon. He was a young officer in the famous Beaufort
battle in 1982. in which six of his peers in Sayeret Golani (One of Israel’s elite special forces) and indeed was wounded there. The battle is the most known symbol of Israel’s 1982 invasion to Lebanon. The Israeli combatants displayed heroic
heroism, and paid dearly. It later turned out that there was an order not to attack the castle. To add insult to injury, Israeli then Prime Minister, Begin, and Defense Minister, Sharon, visited the site a day after the battle, stating that “there were no casualties”. After the war Gerstein left the army for some two
years, before joining back in 1985. He was a young and determined
man. To a girlfriend he said: I will be the chief of staff. Only two years later he became Sayeret Golani commander. It is there, where he was transformed from an effective leader, to a legendary warrior. Gerstein lead the unit to long range attacks on Hezbollah bases, and pushed his man to the edge. In one case, he refused to evacuate a trainee who suffered severe cold during a training exercise, although the guy was almost clinically dead (he did survive). From there, sky was the limit. Gerstein commanded Golani infantry brigade, before becoming one of the youngest Brigadier Generals in the IDF. Despite all his efforts, Israel was committed to leaving Lebanon, and his killing by Hezbolla