Bnei Tzion pre-army preparatory academy in Tel Aviv
Bnei Tzion pre-army preparatory academy in Tel AvivMiriam Alster/Flash 90

Yuval Kahan, director of the Bnei Tzion pre-army preparatory academy in Tel Aviv, and instructor Aviv Berdichev, were released on Monday evening to house arrest for a period of five days.

The two were arrested on Friday following the flash flood disaster in the Arava region in which 10 students from the academy were killed.

The court forbade the two men to enter the offices of the preparatory academy and to contact any of the parties involved in the investigation for a period of ten days.

In the wake of the disaster in Nahal Tzafit, the Joint Council of Pre-Military Academies appointed former police commissioner Shlomo Aharonishki as an external consultant on the issue of safety and security.

As part of his role, Aharonishki will work to examine the procedures and regulations currently in place in the preparatory academies, and will be tasked with formulating recommendations for continued planned field activities.

Aharonishki said that he accepted the appointment out of the understanding that the preparatory academies are interested in substantive change.

"The serious incident that occurred last Thursday must turn on some red lights. Out of an understanding of the need, and from years of experience both in the field of security and safety, I agreed to heed the call of the Joint Council of Pre-Military Academies," he added.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the disaster following indications that the organizers of the fateful trip led the hike despite warnings not to travel in the area due to an elevated flood risk.