Former IDF Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. (res.) Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi and former chief military prosecutor Col. (res.) Matan Solomesh were arrested late Sunday night by Israeli police, in connection with the high-profile leak of the Sde Teiman footage and other serious criminal offenses. The arrests were made by a specialized investigative unit as part of a broad, ongoing inquiry, according to a police spokesperson.
Tomer-Yerushalmi, once the highest-ranking female legal official in the IDF and the second woman ever to attain the rank of major-general, had already come under public and political scrutiny. Last Friday, she resigned under pressure from Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, who threatened to dismiss her over allegations that she was involved in leaking a classified video from the Sde Teiman detention facility.
The leaked footage reportedly shows IDF soldiers using excessive force against a Palestinian detainee. Investigators suspect that Tomer-Yerushalmi not only facilitated the leak, but also misled officials during the internal probe by denying knowledge of the source.
Tensions surrounding the case escalated further on Sunday afternoon when reports surfaced that Tomer-Yerushalmi had gone missing, leaving behind a note that raised fears for her safety. A full-scale search was launched by security forces, deploying resources by land, sea, and air. After several hours, she was found alive and unharmed on a beach in north Tel Aviv.
“This afternoon, we received a report about a missing person with concerns for her life,” the Tel Aviv District Police commander said following her recovery. “With bolstered forces, we arrived in the area and deployed all the resources at our disposal — by sea, on land, and through technological means. I can say that after extensive searches, she is currently being escorted by soldiers and police officers for a physical examination, and she will be brought to us at the police station.”
The simultaneous arrests of Tomer-Yerushalmi and Solomesh mark a rare and dramatic development within the upper ranks of Israel’s military legal system. Both are now central figures in what authorities are calling a complex case involving potential obstruction of justice, misconduct, and breach of trust.
The investigation into the Sde Teiman leak — already a lightning rod for controversy — is expected to intensify in the coming days. Law enforcement officials have not ruled out additional arrests or charges.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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5 Responses
Jail is too easy. She should immediately be tried for treason; upon conviction she should be sentenced to a public hanging which shall be carried out by the State forthwith.
Why did the police search for this woman if not to arrest her? Would the police make such superhuman efforts to find a Haredi lady?
If the video was doctored as some claim, she deserves harsh punishment. But if it’s legitimate evidence of crimes committed then she’s being scapegoated for the atrocities of others. The leak was morally justified if it’s exposing unethical illegal behavior – we have no business allowing people to get away with that stuff just because they’re Jews and the victim was not.
I do hope it was just a fake clip but so far no credible evidence has shown that to be the case. She will be prosecuted and likely punished for doing the right thing.
Sima Batsheva – In all fairness, of course they would, and sometimes they did when necessary. Contrary to the bad rap they sometimes get, the Israeli police themselves are usually good guys, even towards the Chareidim. They are often Dati/Mesorti and members of the serf class. The bad guys are the Erev Rav Junta who control the SC/AG/MSM/and much of the chief IDF brass.
bem684 – Without going into the backstory of this whole parsha, just think about it for a moment. If this was a real piece of bombshell evidence, why on Earth would she, as chief prosecutor, release it to the public before a proper investigation and trial could be conducted. אלא מאי, there is a completely different agenda at work here, which she is a proactive part of.
bem, even if the video was genuine, leaking it was an act of treason. If someone in the US military during WW2 had leaked film of US servicemen abusing German POWs, that person would have been court martialed and shot. Whoever in the US military who leaked the Abu-Ghraib photos should also have been shot, but unfortunately wasn’t.
Whether it’s true or false, leaking it is aiding the enemy, giving the enemy aid and comfort. US servicemen died because of the Abu Ghraib leak, and the US’s military goals were set back. That is criminal. If someone comes across evidence of misconduct their duty is to raise it in strict privacy with the relevant authorities, but otherwise to keep it secret.