Yifat Yerushalmi Tomer

Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi (born 1974) is a major general in the IDF currently serving as the chief military advocate and she is the second woman in the history of the IDF to hold this rank. Previously, she served as the gender affairs advisor to the chief of staff.

Biography

Tomer-Yerushalmi grew up in Netanya. She studied law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as part of the Military Academic Reserve, and graduated with honors. In 1996, after completing her studies, she enlisted in the Military Advocate General. In 1997, she was certified as a lawyer after interning at the Chief Military Prosecutor's office. In 1999, she graduated with a master's degree in law with honors from Tel Aviv University. Simultaneously, she served as a teaching assistant in a criminal law course. In 2003, she was sent by the IDF to pursue a master's degree at The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, which she completed with distinction.

Tomer-Yerushalmi is a graduate of the IDF Command and Staff College "Afak".

Professional career

During her military service, she held various positions in the Military Advocate General's Corps, including – senior assistant to the chief military prosecutor, legal assistant to the chief military prosecutor, Menachem Finkelstein, deputy prosecutor of the Central Command, head of Legal Supervision Branch, and head of Legislation and Communication Branch.

As assistant to the chief military prosecutor, she was involved in formulating legal opinions regarding the "1997 Israeli helicopter disaster" and the "Ansariya ambush".

In this role she handled major legal issues, including – the legal implications of the Second Intifada; handling conscientious objectors and more.

As head of legal supervision in the Military Advocate General's Corps, she sought the demotion of Colonel Elhanan Tannenbaum due to his involvement in serious crimes of drug trafficking and forgery, during which time he was kidnapped by Hezbollah. Tomer-Yerushalmi represented the army's position before a special committee, headed by Brigadier General (res.) Amnon Strashnov, which ordered his demotion to the rank of private.

In 2007 she was appointed as a judge of the military court in the jurisdictions of the General Staff, Central, Home front, and Air Force.

In 2010 she was promoted to deputy president of the military court for the General Staff and Home Front. During her tenure as a judge, she handled complex and sensitive cases in various fields, including severe sex offenses; drug trafficking and use; unauthorized military weapon possession; negligent manslaughter, and more.

In 2015 she returned to the Military Advocate General's Corps, appointed as head of the Advisory and Legislation Department and promoted to the rank of brigadier general. In this role, she headed a department providing legal counsel to all IDF branches in constitutional, administrative, and civil law. She also coordinated legislative processes related to the IDF and represented the military's positions in various issues in government offices and Knesset committees.

In July 2019 the chief of general staff, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi, decided to appoint her as the advisor to the chief of general staff for gender affairs, and she began her role in September 2019. As the Advisor for Gender Affairs, Tomer-Yerushalmi focuses on promoting gender equality, ensuring a safe and respectful service environment, and preventing sexual harassment in the IDF. During her tenure, she initiated the establishment of the "Metsapim" center, which opened in October 2020, dealing with the integration of parenthood and service, providing support and guidance for regular service members during pregnancy and early parenthood stages, as well as during fertility treatments.

On September 1, 2021 she entered the role of chief military advocate, was promoted to the rank of major general, becoming the second female major general in the history of the IDF, after Orna Barbivai, and the first woman to head the Military Advocate General's Corps.

Personal life

Tomer-Yerushalmi is married and a mother of three children. She resides in Ramat HaSharon.

Articles written

• Y. Tomer-Yerushalmi, R. Polyak, Military Investigation Immunity, in Menachem Finkelstein's Book – Law, Security and Book, p. 169 (Nevo Publishing), 2020
• Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, Vision for Equality in the IDF, Israel Hayom, March 8, 2020