Defense Minister Appoints Outsider to Replace Disgraced Military Prosecutor 

Defense Minister Israel Katz moved quickly Tuesday to replace Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi as Chief Military Advocate General, appointing civilian attorney Itay Ofir to the post just days after Tomer-Yerushalmi’s arrest in the Sde Teiman leak scandal.

Katz emphasized the need for an outsider untainted by suspicion, stating that the new MAG must prioritize protecting IDF soldiers rather than exposing them to international persecution through what he called “blood libels.”

Ofir, who served as legal advisor to the Defense Ministry from 2017 to 2024 and was a finalist for Attorney General in 2022, brings a background that includes combat service in the Givati Brigade, a Harvard LLM, and extensive private-sector legal experience in Israel and the United States.

New details from journalist Liran Tamari reveal the urgency behind Sunday night’s arrests of senior military prosecutors. Around 6:30 p.m., as police searched for Tomer-Yerushalmi, who had gone missing for hours amid fears for her safety, commanders decided to detain all top officials, including Chief Military Prosecutor Col. Matan Solomesh, to prevent further evidence tampering.

That decision marked the turning point that triggered the widespread crackdown.The appointment and arrests come amid a deepening crisis in the Military Advocate General’s Corps, triggered by the July 2024 raid on Sde Teiman and the subsequent leak of abuse footage that Tomer-Yerushalmi admitted authorizing.

The scandal has sparked political fury, with Prime Minister Netanyahu warning of damage to Israel’s global image and far-right ministers demanding accountability. Ofir now faces the daunting task of rebuilding a prosecution system accused of betraying the troops it was meant to defend.