Tensions are also continuing inside Likud. Gila Gamliel filed a police complaint after claiming the vote count had been falsified.
The Unity Party said chairman Gilad Erdan held a positive meeting this morning with Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz. Erdan is intensifying efforts to promote alliances within the unity bloc, and another meeting between the sides is expected in the coming days.
Prime Minister and Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Neta Molcho as spokesperson for Likud’s election campaign. Molcho, 27, is a graduate of the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, has served for seven years as coalition chairman Ofir Katz’s chief of staff and spokesperson, and participated in the 2020 and 2022 election campaigns.
Netanyahu also appointed Hadar Muchtar, 24, as head of Likud’s youth campaign. Muchtar holds a master’s degree in computer science, is a graduate of IDF Unit 8200, and was described by Likud as an opinion leader who would contribute to the campaign.
Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir separately informed Muchtar that she would not be included on the Otzma Yehudit slate for the upcoming Knesset election. He said he holds her in high regard and expects her to take on public roles in the future, but recommended that she first learn how the Knesset operates and return better prepared.
⚖️ FINANCE MINISTRY AND IDF CLASH OVER MILITARY ADVOCATE GENERAL PAYMENTS: According to reporting cited by Amir Segal and Ynet, the Finance Ministry acknowledged freezing retirement payments due to the dismissed Military Advocate General after she complained about the move.
Finance Ministry professionals reportedly argued that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s decision to remove only the special pension increases granted by the chief of staff still left her with exceptionally generous and unreasonable retirement terms while the outcome of criminal proceedings remains unclear. Zamir was reportedly furious over the decision.
The dispute between the sides is estimated to be worth millions of shekels.
Segal also highlighted a letter from the Accountant General opposing the arrangements, including IDF funding for Tomer-Yerushalmi’s lawyer. He said the letter raised concern about an attempt to link a possible plea bargain in the case to her retirement terms without a legal basis.
Segal argued that the law explicitly denies a pension to someone expelled from the military and questioned why the IDF moved to sign an agreement with the Military Advocate General rather than waiting for a judicial ruling. He characterized the disputed arrangement as potentially involving millions of shekels at public expense and argued that it violated the law.
He separately questioned why the military turned to the Justice Ministry after the Finance Ministry objected. Segal alleged that the Justice Ministry had previously gone to extraordinary lengths to cover up the Military Advocate General affair despite what he described as a glaring conflict of interest, and questioned whether involving the ministry was intended to sweep the matter under the rug as quickly as possible.
Against the backdrop of the clash, the IDF chief issued an official statement criticizing the Finance Ministry over the broader military budget:
“Unfortunately, these days we also find ourselves fighting a battle over the budget. At a time when the IDF and its personnel are stretched across all fronts, we are forced to contend with ‘empty coffers.’ Such a situation harms the IDF’s readiness. We are focused on safeguarding the security of the State of Israel—that is the only consideration guiding us! We will not be drawn into issues that could divert our focus and undermine our readiness.”
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