Military Advocate General Benefits Revoked After Dismissal

Defense Minister Israel Katz has issued a sharp directive to the IDF Chief of Staff demanding immediate steps to strip the dismissed Military Advocate General of all military and public benefits. The order concerns Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who was removed from her position in May amid serious allegations.

In his official statement, Katz emphasized that the alleged actions attributed to her rank among the most severe in IDF history, particularly given her role heading the military's legal enforcement system. The Defense Minister expressed harsh criticism of what he termed foot-dragging by the civilian judicial system in advancing criminal charges against her. He stated that IDF families feel abandoned due to improper considerations, and demanded that no leniency be shown in her case.

The Defense Minister's demand comes against the backdrop of an unprecedented jurisdictional battle between the Finance Ministry and IDF General Staff. State Comptroller Michal Abadi-Boyang has imposed an absolute veto on a decision by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to grant Tomer-Yerushalmi a generous retirement package and financial benefits.

The conflict erupted following the Chief of Staff's decision last May to dismiss Tomer-Yerushalmi over serious suspicions including submitting a false affidavit to Israel's High Court of Justice and allegedly whitewashing an investigation into leaks from the Sde Teiman detention facility. Despite the gravity of the allegations, Zamir chose only to revoke what are known as "Chief of Staff enhancements" while ordering that she receive full standard retirement benefits afforded to regular IDF retirees.

inance Ministry and Justice Ministry officials determined these terms were excessive and clearly unreasonable, and unilaterally froze the transfer of funds. The cumulative retirement package is estimated to be worth millions of shekels, including severance pay, pension rights, and additional benefits.

According to the Defense Minister, while the decision by Tomer-Yerushalmi's successor to cancel proceedings in the Sde Teiman case was necessary, it is insufficient on its own. Katz is demanding that the Chief of Staff exercise the full extent of his authority under political-level directives to ensure no lenient decisions are made that could ease her situation ahead of a potential conviction.

The Minister clarified that immediate steps must be taken to revoke her public and military benefits until the law is fully exhausted. The State Comptroller justified her decision by stating there is no justification for making an irreversible financial decision while Tomer-Yerushalmi's criminal-legal status remains unresolved.

The affair continues to roil Israeli public discourse, with many questioning how someone who headed the military legal enforcement system could face such serious allegations. Media coverage of the case remains intensive, with growing demands for full transparency and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.