Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the Israel Defense Forces' Chief Military Prosecutor, submitted her resignation Friday morning to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. The move came shortly after Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that she would not be allowed to resume her duties, citing "the severity of the suspicions and the sensitivity of the military advocate general's role."
Katz said he intended to begin the process of appointing a new chief military prosecutor "as soon as possible," noting that the position carries responsibility for enforcing the law and setting legal norms across the IDF.
Under normal procedure, Tomer-Yerushalmi's deputy would automatically assume her duties. However, due to what sources described as a recent "escalation in tone" between the Defense Ministry and the Military Advocate General's Corps, the deputy is not expected to be appointed. According to defense sources, Chief Military Prosecutor Eli Lavertov is being considered to serve as acting head until a permanent replacement is chosen.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement that Tomer-Yerushalmi had asked to end her tenure immediately, and that the chief of staff accepted her request. "He will act to stabilize the Military Advocate General's Corps and safeguard IDF soldiers," the statement read. "The chief of staff is confident that a thorough investigation will uncover the full truth."
According to military sources, the head spokesperson for the Military Advocate General's Office was slated to be appointed as a military judge and underwent standard polygraph and Shin Bet background checks for the role. It was during these vetting procedures, they said, that information surfaced revealing the identity of those who leaked a sensitive video from the Tze'elim Base in southern Israel.
The affair broke earlier this week following new information indicating that the source of the leak was a senior officer within the Military Advocate General's Office. In response, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara instructed police to open a formal investigation, and Tomer-Yerushalmi announced she would take a leave of absence pending its outcome.
Police are expected to summon Tomer-Yerushalmi and several senior legal officers for questioning under caution in the coming days. Investigators suspect that she was personally aware of, and possibly involved in, the plan to leak the footage. Israel Hayom has learned that former IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. (res.) Daniel Hagari and the military censor may also be called to provide testimony.
Officials familiar with the details said the leak itself is "the less serious aspect of the affair," adding that "the real issue lies in the suspected cover up attempt and the submission of false reports to the High Court of Justice and to the Knesset."
