Yair Netanyahu said pressuring his father to cancel Itai Ofir’s appointment as top IDF lawyer

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son, Yair Netanyahu, is exerting pressure on the premier to cancel Defense Minister Israel Katz’s appointment of Itai Ofir as the next military advocate general after the resignation of Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer Yerushalmi last week, Hebrew media outlets report.

“This is an appointment from within the legal junta,” Yair told the premier after Ofir’s appointment was announced earlier today, according to Channel 12.

According to the Hebrew network, the premier’s son cited multiple grievances against Ofir, claiming that he was a fellow of the Wexner Foundation philanthropy group, which has been criticized by government officials for promoting “radically left-wing” views; that he worked alongside Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara – whom the government is working to dismiss; and that his wife, who was appointed as a judge by former justice minister Ayelet Shaked, had ruled in favor of leaders of protests against the government’s judicial overhaul.

During a pre-scheduled security discussion this evening, Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly expressed anger at Defense Minister Israel Katz that he hadn’t been informed of the decision to appoint Ofir in advance, and that he instead found out from the media.

Nevertheless, the premier supports the appointment and believes it is “an excellent choice,” Channel 12 reports.