On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Israel’s defense establishment was rocked by a significant leadership change as Defense Minister Israel Katz appointed attorney Itai Ofir as the new advocate general of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This decision followed the dramatic resignation and subsequent arrest of Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who admitted to leaking sensitive surveillance footage depicting alleged abuse of a Palestinian detainee by Israeli soldiers at the Sde Teiman prison. The fallout from this scandal has sent shockwaves through the military and political ranks, raising questions about accountability, transparency, and the future direction of the IDF’s legal system.
According to The Times of Israel, Katz’s appointment of Ofir came after “serious facts that continue to emerge” in the wake of the video leak. The defense minister emphasized the need for an external appointee who is “untainted by suspicion” to restore integrity to the military prosecution. Katz explained, “There is great importance at this time, in light of the serious facts that are being uncovered, to immediately appoint a military advocate general from outside the Military Advocate General Corps — someone untainted by any suspicion and possessing the proper qualifications, who can act to cleanse, rehabilitate and reorganize the military prosecution system based on principles that first and foremost include the protection of IDF soldiers, who are fighting bravely under difficult and complex conditions for the security of the State of Israel, and certainly not to initiate or take part in blood libels that defame IDF soldiers, harm their dignity and expose them to persecution around the world.”
Ofir, 52, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He previously served as legal adviser to the Defense Ministry from 2017 to 2024, and before that, practiced law in both Israel and the United States. His academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in law and a master’s in business administration from Bar-Ilan University, as well as a master’s in law from Harvard University. In the military, Ofir was a combat officer in the Givati Brigade and continues to serve as a reservist in the Negev Brigade. Upon assuming his new position, he will be promoted by five ranks—from captain to major general—a rare but not unprecedented move in the IDF hierarchy.
The appointment process itself was not without controversy. As reported by The Times of Israel, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir only learned of Katz’s decision through the media, although he later expressed support for the choice. Zamir had included Ofir among his recommendations for the post, stating that he “welcomes the appointment of attorney Itai Ofir.” The IDF highlighted the chief of staff’s belief in the “utmost importance in appointing a military advocate general who comes from the ranks of combat officers in the IDF, with extensive legal experience and a deep understanding of both the challenges of combat and of law.”
Ofir’s eligibility required legal maneuvering. Normally, the Military Justice Law stipulates that the advocate general must be “a military attorney with at least seven years of legal experience.” As Ofir was not a military attorney at the time of his appointment, defense sources clarified that the decision was cleared by legal experts and that Ofir would be recruited into the IDF as a military attorney, thereby fulfilling the statutory requirement.
The political response to Ofir’s appointment was swift and varied. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of the Political and Security Cabinet, praised the decision, declaring, “There is no one more worthy and suitable to heal the military prosecution system than attorney Itai Ofir. A soldier and officer in the reserves, with a backbone of Zionist values and a first-rate professional. I am convinced that this excellent appointment by the Minister of Defense will lead to the necessary correction of the system.” Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock echoed this sentiment, describing the decision as “correct and very appropriate” and commending Ofir’s professional and personal integrity during his tenure as a legal adviser in the defense establishment.
However, not all voices were in agreement. According to Channel 12, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son, Yair Netanyahu, lobbied the premier to cancel Ofir’s appointment, citing concerns about Ofir’s associations with the Wexner Foundation—an organization criticized by some government officials for allegedly promoting “radically left-wing” views. Yair Netanyahu also pointed to Ofir’s professional ties with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and judicial decisions made by Ofir’s wife in favor of protest leaders against the government’s controversial judicial overhaul plans. Despite this internal pressure, Prime Minister Netanyahu ultimately supported the appointment, reportedly describing it as “an excellent choice.”
The backdrop to this appointment is the ongoing scandal involving former advocate general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi. She resigned on October 31, 2025, after admitting to authorizing the leak of surveillance footage in mid-2024. The video in question purportedly showed IDF reservists abusing a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman detention facility. The incident led to the indictment of five reserve soldiers, who, according to military prosecutors, severely beat the prisoner on July 5, 2024, resulting in massive injuries, including broken ribs and an internal tear in his rectum. The investigation into the abuse sparked outrage among coalition politicians, government ministers, and right-wing activists. When the reservists were detained on July 29, 2024, dozens of individuals broke into the detention facility and another army base in an attempt to thwart the arrests.
Tomer-Yerushalmi’s resignation quickly spiraled into a personal crisis. She briefly disappeared, leaving a note and her car by a beach north of Tel Aviv, which prompted a nationwide search. Authorities believe she deliberately threw her phone into the sea in an attempt to destroy potential evidence related to the leak. Despite extensive searches by police and divers, the device has not been recovered. She was eventually found alive and later jailed on charges of abuse of office, breach of trust, obstruction of justice, and unlawful disclosure of material.
As Ofir steps into his new role, he faces a daunting task: restoring credibility to the IDF’s legal system while navigating the crosscurrents of political pressure, public scrutiny, and the ongoing fallout from the Sde Teiman scandal. With both supporters and critics watching closely, the coming months will test not only Ofir’s legal acumen but also his ability to balance the demands of justice, military ethics, and national security in one of Israel’s most sensitive and high-profile positions.
The appointment of Itai Ofir as military advocate general marks a pivotal moment for the IDF, as the institution seeks to move past scandal and reestablish public trust in its legal and ethical standards.
