Cpt. Ella Sirotinsky is a Military Advocate General prosecutor in Judea and Samaria at the Ofer Base, lives in Tel Aviv
Date: 12/01/2012, 5:42 PM
Author: IDF Website
As an IDF prosecutor in Judea and Samaria, I deal with the people who threaten the security of the State of Israel. I studied law and chose to return to the IDF for a meaningful service. For three and a half years I served as a legal advisor for the military courthouse president and his deputy, and for the past six months I have been serving as chief prosecutor in Judea and Samaria.
This position requires a great deal of responsibility: I manage legal cases and evidence, prepare indictments, present in arrest halls, supply witnesses and more. This job is equally complicated to that of any other lawyer, but I consider it to be a vocation. I truly feel that I am working for the security of the country and its people. I have been learning a lot both legally and professionally, exposed to extremely complicated cases that most young lawyers don’t normally encounter. I love the action, and how dynamic the job is. Working with different bodies such as police, defense ministry, Israel Security Agency, and advocates is highly enriching. Personally, working with people is extremely beneficial to me.
Some might question this place, though I believe they don’t understand how important our work is. My family is extremely proud of me, and my husband who also serves in military courthouses understands the complexities of the work and is supportive and proud.
Similarly to any other lawyer, the difficulties include individual ethical dilemmas, level of mercy you employ, the decisions you must make and the consequences you must live with. When you prosecute people, you must remember these people have families or are even mere teenagers. It's true that sometimes we represent the public interest of the country and not any personal interest, though sometimes it is impossible to ignore the individuals. Remembering a human being is standing in front of you is crucial.
Being a woman, I am probably more sensitive to these situations. Our emotional intelligence is more developed and when dealing with people this is a definite advantage.
The exposure to complicated cases and complex legal dilemmas is a great opportunity for any young lawyer. Moreover, serving as an IDF prosecutor is a true vocation.