Military and Defense Law
Meitar’s Military and Defense Law practice advises and represents soldiers, commanders, officers, career service members and reservists, as well as members of the Israel Police, the Israel Security Agency, the Israel Prison Service and other security bodies, in a broad range of proceedings relating to their service and their dealings with the systems in which they serve.
Military and defense law lies at the intersection of criminal, administrative, disciplinary and service law, within a distinctive legal and institutional framework. Proceedings in this area can have significant consequences for an individual’s liberty, reputation, status, role and continued service. Handling these matters requires in-depth knowledge of the military and security systems and how they function, as well as experience managing investigations and complex legal proceedings.
The practice advises on and manages crises and sensitive incidents, including related media and public affairs. We approach each matter holistically, assessing its legal, command, professional and public implications and tailoring our strategy to the client’s position and the circumstances of the matter.
Since Colonel (res.) Adv. Ofira Elkabetz-Rotshtein joined Meitar, the practice has further expanded the knowledge and experience developed through approximately 26 years of service in the Military Advocate General’s Corps. Most recently, she served as Chief Military Defense Counsel. During her career, she held senior command and leadership positions and led legal representation teams in the IDF.
Our work in this area includes:
- Advice and representation in debriefings, reviews and operational incidents;
- Advice and representation in international proceedings arising from military or security service;
- Advice and representation in State Comptroller reviews and commissions of inquiry concerning service-related incidents;
- Advice and representation in investigations by the military police and other security bodies;
- Representation in detention proceedings, hearings, and criminal and disciplinary proceedings, including before military courts;
- Representation of commanders, officers, career service members and members of the security forces in proceedings concerning their roles, status and continued service;
- Representation in hearings and proceedings concerning removal from office, suspension, reassignment and termination of service;
- Representation before appeals committees and in administrative proceedings before the IDF and other security bodies;
- Petitions to Israel’s High Court of Justice concerning the conduct of the military and other security systems toward individuals;
- Advice on and handling matters concerning prospective service members, including enlistment, placement and medical classification;
- Advice and representation for victims of offenses in criminal and disciplinary proceedings before the military and security authorities, to vindicate their rights and ensure that their views are heard throughout the proceedings;
- Advice and representation in matters concerning security clearances and security suitability.
The practice also represents bereaved families in their dealings with the IDF, the Ministry of Defense and other security bodies. Depending on the circumstances, this may include proceedings concerning the circumstances of a family member’s death, access to information and investigative materials, recognition as a bereaved family and exercise of the rights associated with that status, as well as challenges to and petitions against decisions of the authorities. We handle these matters with the requisite sensitivity, while advocating professionally and firmly for the family’s right to receive information, be heard and fully exercise its rights vis-à-vis the relevant authorities.
The practice’s specialized knowledge and experience in military and defense law are complemented by Meitar’s broad capabilities in litigation, administrative law, white-collar defense, investigations, regulatory matters and employment law. This combination enables us to provide multidisciplinary counsel and comprehensively handle matters requiring diverse legal expertise, sound judgment and coordinated strategic management. We represent clients from the earliest stages, developing a strategy that considers the full range of risks and implications and is tailored to the matter, the client’s position and the client’s objectives. Where appropriate, matters are handled by a multidisciplinary team of lawyers from across the firm.
Business clients—including suppliers and companies in the defense and aviation industries seeking commercial, regulatory or tender-related advice and representation in dealings with the IDF and the defense establishment—are represented by the firm’s Defense Industries and Homeland Security practice.
