Benjamin Peskin and Ariel Talitian, close friends of Sgt. Naveh Havashush, who was killed in the tank disaster in southern Lebanon, spoke to Channel 7 about his character and the shock of his death. Peskin said friends gathered at Havashush’s parents’ home as soon as they learned he had fallen, and described a day of mutual support as everyone tried to absorb the loss.
Peskin said Havashush was the person who kept the group together. He said, “He always made sure we were united, that we were a group and went everywhere together.” He recalled trips near their homes in the Wadi at Ein Prat, where Havashush would check that everyone had water, wake up first, and wake the others so they could leave together. “He smiled with his eyes,” Peskin said, adding that Havashush “loved us and we loved him so much.”
Both friends said Havashush was deeply committed to military service and to what he saw as his mission. Peskin said that when Havashush came home, he did not complain, but said only that he was there and felt a sense of purpose. On one occasion, when Peskin tried to persuade him to stay home a little longer, Havashush replied, “Brother, they need me there, I am significant there, I contribute.” Talitian said he still cannot fully process the loss, but emphasized Havashush’s kindness, volunteer spirit, and bright, easygoing nature.
Peskin also said he only learned on the day of the interview about notes Havashush had written and that the family later published after his death. One line that struck him was, “Being a soldier is a privilege, it is not a burden.” Talitian said he wants to carry forward Havashush’s legacy, describing him as “the best advisor, the best friend, and I am sure also the best soldier.”