IDF Chief of Staff Dismisses Former Military Advocate General Over Sde Teiman Leaks Case
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has ordered the immediate and definitive dismissal of former Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi from the military. The decision comes on the heels of her initial suspension following a criminal investigation into high-profile security leaks and an alleged internal cover-up tied to the Sde Teiman detention facility.
In an official statement, the IDF Spokesperson confirmed that the widening scope and severity of the allegations prompted the military leadership to expedite her discharge rather than awaiting the final conclusion of the trial.
“Against the backdrop of the prolonged criminal proceedings, and in light of the severity of the actions and suspicions, the Chief of Staff has decided to dismiss the former MAG from service without further delay,” the IDF announced. “Accordingly, she will not be eligible for the ‘service period completion’ pension expansion component.”
The administrative discharge carries steep financial consequences for Tomer-Yerushalmi, with defense officials estimating the immediate economic penalty at up to 1 million NIS. By finalizing her ouster before standard retirement channels could be completed, the military has stripped her of a lucrative one-year pre-retirement paid adaptation leave, which subsequently blocks a 2% baseline increase to her lifetime pension. Furthermore, her specialized Chief of Staff discretionary pension bonuses have been revoked.
While Defense Minister Israel Katz has heavily pressured authorities to immediately strip the former MAG of her military rank, the IDF high command opted for a more legally measured approach regarding her official status as a Major General.
“Regarding the issue of rank, in the Chief of Staff’s view, it would be proper to consider demotion only upon the clarification and finalization of the facts within the criminal proceedings,” the military clarified, indicating that a formal reduction in rank will remain on the table pending a definitive court conviction.
Katz strongly praised the Chief of Staff’s decisive move, reiterating his stance that the internal leaks originating from within the military prosecutor’s office constituted a severe breach of operational security. The defense minister noted that he has formally requested the Attorney General to expedite the criminal case, pushing for severe punitive measures including jail time and rank stripping for undermining active-duty troops.
