New chief advocate general hailed as expert on international law

Colonel Sharon Afek will be the Israel Defense Forces' new Chief Military Advocate General, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon announced on Monday. The decision to tap Afek was made in consultation with IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, who recommended Afek.

"Afek's highly professional conduct will be put on display in his new role, as will his integrity, his moral compass and his wide perspective on legal and military matters," Ya'alon said in his announcement. "These qualities will play a crucial role in light of the significant challenges facing the Military Advocate General. In the military-legal world, one has to master international law to protect commanders and combat troops from international prosecution. Col. Afek is well versed on such matters and on additional topics; he knows the legal apparatus and the terrific people who work tirelessly to defend the men and women in uniform."

Afek will be promoted to the rank of brigadier general, unlike current chief MAG, Maj. Gen. Danny Efroni, who is a major general. This is a consequence of the recent downsizing in the IDF. In fact, the position was held by a brigadier generals until 2012 when then-Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided to promote Efroni as a personal gesture.

Prior to his decision, Ya'alon consulted Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, senior IDF commanders, former members of the military advocate general and others in the legal world.

Afek currently runs a training program at the IDF Military Colleges. He served as the MAG's legal advisor in Judea and Samaria and as the chief legal counsel for the Israeli Air Force. He was also the deputy head of the MAG's International Law Department. Afek has an advanced law degree from Tel Aviv University (that he completed with distinction). Under the auspices of the IDF National Defense College, he pursued a master's degree in national security studies and graduated from Haifa University with distinction. Afek also completed Harvard University's Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program.

With international legal forums increasingly being used as a means to delegitimize the IDF, the role of chief military advocate general has become all the more important. As chief military advocate general, Afek will decide whether certain IDF actions should lead to criminal probes. The outgoing chief MAG has come under heavy criticism from within the military over his decision to investigate the legality of the IDF's conduct during Operation Protective Edge.