About the MAG Corps

30.12.21

 

The Military Advocate General's Corps (MAG Corps) was founded prior to the establishment of the State of Israel as the "Legal Service" within "Haganah" (the quasi-military body of the Jewish community and Zionist Movement in the British mandate prior to the establishment of the State of Israel). The MAG Corps, as it is today, was established in 1948 concurrent with the IDF, as the "Military Prosecution". In 1950, the unit was renamed the Military Advocate General's Corps.

The MAG Corps is responsible for implementing the rule of law within the IDF. The unit's objectives include integrating the rule of law amongst IDF commanders and soldiers; providing commanders with the tools for the effective performance of their missions in accordance with the law; and helping the IDF achieve its goals on all legal fronts. Special emphasis is placed on the MAG Corps' ability to provide legal advice in emergencies and during warfare. The MAG Corps operates as the bridge between the legal and military contexts, and as such MAG Corps officers are proficient in both the law as well as the military's needs.

In order to achieve its objectives the MAG Corps maintains five separate and distinct departments:

  • The Military Prosecution is responsible for upholding the rule of law in the IDF by enforcing the law against IDF soldiers that have committed offences under the jurisdiction of the military justice system. Additionally, the Military Prosecution is responsible for prosecuting residents of Judea and Samaria that have violated the law and are under the jurisdiction of the Military Courts.
  • The International Law Department provides international law advice to the IDF, and acts as expert at the national level concerning the Law of Armed Conflict and the international law in the cyber realm.
  • The Legal Advice and Legislative Affairs Division provides legal advice to all IDF entities on matters of constitutional, public, administrative and civil law.
  • The Department of the Legal Advisor to the Region of Judea and Samaria provides legal advice to entities operating in the Judea and Samaria region, including the IDF Central Command and the Civil Administration, on legal issues in the fields of security and civil affairs.
  • The Military Defense provides legal advice and representation to any IDF soldier under investigation or standing trial in the military justice system, upon their request. While remaining a part of the MAG Corps, the Military Defense enjoys complete professional independence. For more information about legal rights and representation see here.

Additionally, the MAG Corps operates a School of Military Law, which is responsible for training in the IDF on matters of military law and for the professional development of those serving in the MAG Corps. Additionally, the School of Military Law trains and accredits IDF officers to conduct disciplinary proceedings and coordinates the process for requests by soldiers for pardons or sentence mitigation.

At the head of the MAG Corps stands the Military Advocate General, who is the highest legal authority in the IDF and whose professional decisions bind all units in the IDF. The Military Advocate General is subject to no authority other than the law. This professional independence extends to subordinate military lawyers, who are subject to the authority only of their immediate MAG Corps commanders, and who in turn are subject only to the Military Advocate General.

The Deputy Military Advocate General fills the Military Advocate General's role in his or her absence, and is responsible for human resources, organization and budget in the MAG Corps. Additionally, he or she is responsible for supervising disciplinary proceedings in the IDF and for coordinating requests for pardons or sentence mitigation by soldiers to the President of the State of Israel.

Those that serve in the MAG Corps have a deep understanding of the significance of their task and the responsibility that rests on their shoulders. These officers handle this responsibility with a sense of purpose and with dedication to the IDF and to the rule of law.

MAG Corps Leadership