Top Israeli Military Lawyer Detained Amid Leak Investigation, Sparking Political Crisis
Jerusalem — Israel’s former top military lawyer, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, is currently detained and facing accusations of fraud, breach of trust, and obstruction of justice following a tumultuous week that included her resignation, a brief disappearance, and the revelation she authorized a leak of a surveillance video detailing alleged abuse of a Palestinian detainee.
The controversy stems from Tomer-Yerushalmi’s decision to leak the video last year, which depicts soldiers allegedly assaulting a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman military prison. The video shows soldiers cordoning off an area with shields, allegedly to conceal the assault, which an indictment claims included sexual violence and the use of a knife, causing life-threatening injuries. A medical staffer familiar with the case, speaking anonymously, described the detainee’s condition upon arrival at a civilian hospital as the most extreme abuse case they had encountered at Sde Teiman. The incident has reignited debate over the treatment of Palestinian detainees within the Israeli military justice system, a long-standing point of contention.
Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned last week under pressure from hard-line political leaders, and after leaving a cryptic note, her disappearance prompted a large-scale search. She was found Sunday night on a Tel Aviv beach, after which she faced further public condemnation, including a post from right-wing TV personality Yinon Magal stating, “We can resume the lynch,” accompanied by a winking-face emoji. Some politicians have even accused her of staging a suicide attempt to destroy evidence, following the discovery that one of her phones was missing. This case underscores the deep political divisions within Israel, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict and the upcoming trial of the soldiers involved in the alleged abuse, as detailed by the Associated Press.
At a court hearing yesterday, a judge extended Tomer-Yerushalmi’s detention until Wednesday. Former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomesh was also arrested in connection with the leak investigation, though the prime minister’s office has declined to comment. The Jerusalem-based think tank Israel Democracy Institute notes that this case involves three separate legal issues: the alleged abuse of detainees, attempts to obstruct the investigation, and Tomer-Yerushalmi’s actions regarding the leak. Officials say the investigation is ongoing and will determine the full extent of the alleged offenses.
