First woman appointed as military advocate-general
Defense Minister Benny Gantz appointed Brig.-Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi as military advocate-general on Thursday. She will be the first woman to hold the position, and the second woman to be promoted to the rank of major-general, after Economy Minister Orna Barbivay.
Tomer-Yerushalmi will replace Military Advocate-General Maj.-Gen. Sharon Afek, who has served in the role for six years.
Her appointment follows the recommendation of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi and consultations with Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit.
“Tomer-Yerushalmi is an experienced and outstanding legal scholar, holding extensive knowledge in the workings of the Military Advocate-General’s Office,” Gantz said in a statement. “She is also a groundbreaking woman who advanced several gender-equality reforms in her current role. I am proud to promote her to the rank of major-general, and I am sure she won’t be the last.”
The military advocate-general is tasked with assuring that the rule of law is being implemented within the IDF, representing the military in front of institutional bodies, giving legal advice to senior officers on military and international law and supervising the rules of conduct, investigatory arms and military detention centers.