IDF Chief Clashes With Finance Ministry Over Frozen Severance Pay for Dismissed Legal Officer

A sharp power struggle erupted this week between Israel's Finance Ministry and the IDF General Staff after the Finance Ministry's Accountant General, Michal Abadi-Boiangiu, vetoed a generous severance package approved by IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir for dismissed military prosecutor Colonel Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi. The dispute, reported on Wednesday, marks an unprecedented crisis between Israel's civilian and military authorities.

The conflict stems from a May decision by Zamir to dismiss Tomer-Yerushalmi amid serious allegations that she submitted a false affidavit to the Supreme Court and attempted to cover up an investigation into a leak from the Yemen base. Despite the severity of the accusations, Zamir chose to revoke only her "Chief of Staff privileges" and grant her full retirement benefits equivalent to a regular IDF retiree. The Finance and Justice Ministries deemed these terms excessive and froze the transfer of funds unilaterally. The severance package is estimated to be worth millions of shekels, including retirement compensation, pension rights, and additional benefits.

Abadi-Boiangiu justified the freeze by stating that irreversible financial decisions should not be made before Tomer-Yerushalmi's legal and criminal status is fully resolved. Finance officials emphasized the principle that full benefits cannot be granted to someone dismissed under serious criminal suspicion before legal proceedings conclude.

In response, Zamir sent a stern letter to the Finance Ministry asserting that the decision is solely within his authority and that civilian bodies should not interfere with IDF commanders' decisions. The IDF described the freeze as unprecedented sanctions causing financial harm exceeding 1.5 million shekels and called for direct dialogue through established channels rather than unilateral fund freezes.

Tomer-Yerushalmi was removed following the leak scandal investigation, which remains ongoing with no final legal ruling yet. This confrontation raises fundamental questions about the balance of authority between the IDF Chief of Staff and civilian government bodies, especially regarding economic decisions impacting the state budget. While the IDF insists on operational and administrative independence, the Finance Ministry stresses its duty to safeguard public funds and prevent unjustified payments.