MK Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home) sent a letter to IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkott on Tuesday morning, following reports that the IDF put a lawyer from a large firm into the reserves in order to serve as a prosecutor.
Smotrich asked Eizenkott to explain the reasoning for the move, as well as how much the military is paying for the lawyer's services.
Yediyot Aharonot reported that the military prosecutor decided to strengthen its ranks with a top-rated private lawyer, and enlisted him into the reserves. The lawyer, Nadav Weisman, is a prosecutor and senior partner in Israel's largest legal firm.
Weisman is also a lieutenant colonel in the IDF, where he served as a prosecutor in the judicial corps. During his service, he handled a number major cases, including that of Staff Sergeant Assaf Waxman, who was killed when an APC overturned, and the case of Sergeant Roi Dror from Duvdevan, who dehydrated and died during a training exercise.
The report stated that the military prosecutor needs significant reinforcements in order to handle the legal team representing Elor Azariya, the soldier who killed a neutralized terrorist. His defense attorneys include former Deputy Military Advocate General Ilan Katz, Eyal Besserglick and Beni Malka.
Military sources were quoted as saying hiring Weisman shows that the prosecution does not intend to back down and is not afraid of taking the case to court, even if it means forcing officers and soldiers to take the stand.