Dispute Erupts Between Israeli Defense Ministry and IDF Chief Over Fired Military Advocate's Compensation

A public dispute has emerged between the Israeli Ministry of Finance's Accountant General and IDF Chief of Staff Major General Eyal Zamir regarding the financial compensation of the dismissed military advocate, Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi. Defense Minister Israel Katz reprimanded Zamir, demanding a tougher stance against Tomer-Yerushalmi. Although the disagreement centers on her compensation terms, it fundamentally reflects a power struggle over authority between the two offices.

The IDF Chief claims exclusive authority over both the decision to dismiss Tomer-Yerushalmi and the financial terms of her departure, asserting these were determined by him. Conversely, the Accountant General argues that while the Chief of Staff holds command authority, his decisions must comply with legal standards and administrative law, subject to financial oversight by the Accountant General's office. She emphasized that the IDF bypassed required financial controls by advancing 90% of the settlement without notifying the military accountant.

The Accountant General's letter references government regulations mandating coordination with her office for pension payments under the Military Service Law. She also cited Supreme Court rulings affirming that command decisions are not immune to legal and financial scrutiny. The IDF's Human Resources Division reportedly negotiated compensation terms directly with Tomer-Yerushalmi's legal representatives without proper financial oversight, rendering the agreement invalid according to the Accountant General.

Despite ongoing discussions between the Ministry of Finance and the IDF for over two months, the Ministry of Justice has not been officially involved. The conflict may ultimately be resolved by the courts if Tomer-Yerushalmi pursues full compensation through legal channels. The IDF stated that the Chief of Staff's decision was unprecedented and aligned with the severity of her actions, and that they await the conclusion of the ongoing civil legal proceedings before finalizing further steps.

This dispute highlights the tension between military command prerogatives and civilian financial oversight within Israel's defense establishment, with potential implications for governance and legal accountability in military personnel matters.