Leftist Group Calls to Boycott Publisher Over Book by Slain Researcher
A leftist group called "Academia Struggle" is demanding a boycott of Yediot Books for publishing a book by Ze'ev (Z'abo) Erlich, who died in Lebanon. Activists blame Erlich's presence for the death of Sgt. Gour Kahati, a claim the family also disputes. Erlich and Kahati were killed in a Hezbollah attack on November 20, 2024. The military closed a case against an officer involved, citing operational reasons, but found other failures.
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- Leftist group "Academia Struggle" calls to boycott Yediot Books over a new publication.
- The book features writings by Ze'ev (Z'abo) Erlich, who died in Lebanon alongside Sgt. Gour Kahati.
- Activists accuse Erlich's presence in Lebanon of causing Sgt. Gour Kahati's death.
- Erlich and Kahati were killed in a Hezbollah encounter on November 20, 2024.
- The Military Advocate General's Corps closed a case against an officer involved in the incident.
A group of leftist activists, "Academia Struggle," has called for a boycott of the publishing house Yediot Books, managed by Dov Eichnwald. The demand stems from the publication of a new book compiling the writings of Ze'ev (Z'abo) Erlich, a researcher of the Land of Israel who was killed in Lebanon. The activists expressed anger over the book's release, urging a boycott until "this shame is removed from the shelves." They harshly criticized Erlich, accusing his presence in Lebanon of leading to the death of Golani fighter Sgt. Gour Kahati. The group characterized Erlich's activities as "messianic whims."
Alon Ader also sharply criticized the book in the newspaper Haaretz, stating that its commemoration whitewashes the circumstances of the event. Erlich was killed on November 20, 2024, in an encounter with Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon, alongside Sgt. Gour Kahati. Erlich had joined an IDF force at the initiative of Col. (res.) Yoav Yarom for an operational incident investigation near the village of Shama. During the activity, fire was opened on the force, and Kahati, who was a combat medic and went to assist his wounded commander, was killed alongside Erlich.
In December 2025, the Military Advocate General's Corps closed the criminal case against Yarom, determining that Erlich's joining the force could not be ruled out as having operational reasons. However, severe failures were found in the military's investigation, and the Chief of Staff ordered Yarom's dismissal from reserve duty. The Kahati family rejected the explanations and strongly criticized the investigation presented to them in July 2026. The soldier's grandfather, Brig. Gen. (res.) Assaf Agmon, claimed there was no operational necessity for Erlich's participation and that commanders did not take responsibility for the "disaster."
The book, titled "Truth from the Land - From the Fields of the Land to the Secrets of the Bible," spans 776 pages and was edited by Meir Rotter, compiling Erlich's past articles. It blends weekly Torah portions with the geography, archaeology, and history of the Land of Israel. Erlich, a founder of the Ofra Field School, dedicated decades to researching the region and had previously guided senior IDF officers. The new book aims to preserve his research and make his legacy accessible.
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