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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has named Major-General Roman Gofman, his current military secretary, as the next director of the Mossad, Israel’s powerful intelligence and special operations agency.
The unexpected decision, announced Thursday, marks a significant break from long-standing succession traditions within Israel’s security establishment. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Gofman was chosen after a series of interviews with multiple candidates.
His appointment will be submitted to the Advisory Committee for Appointments to Senior Positions for review later on Thursday. If approved, he will replace outgoing Mossad chief David Barnea when his term ends in June next year.
The PMO issued a detailed statement outlining Gofman’s extensive military background. It emphasized his combat and command experience, describing him as a “fighter and commander in the Armored Corps,” whose career included leading the 75th Battalion of the IDF’s 7th Armored Brigade.
He also held senior roles in the 36th Division, the Etzion Brigade, and the 7th Brigade. Gofman’s more recent leadership posts further bolstered his operational credentials. He previously commanded the 210th Division, responsible for Israel’s sensitive border with Syria.
He also led the National Ground Forces Training Center and served as Head of Staff in the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), an assignment requiring both strategic understanding and diplomatic finesse.
Since May 2023, Gofman has served as Military Secretary to the Prime Minister, a role that demands absolute discretion and continuous coordination between Israel’s military and political leadership. The PMO credited him with demonstrating “creativity, initiative, stratagem, deep recognition of the enemy, absolute discretion, and the safeguarding of secrets.”
Netanyahu’s office further highlighted Gofman’s conduct during the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. On the morning of the surprise assault, the statement said, Gofman rushed from his home to join the fighting in the Western Negev and engaged Hamas militants directly.
He was seriously wounded in combat, an incident that enhanced his public profile and earned him recognition as a courageous field commander. Despite his strong credentials, Gofman’s selection has surprised many within the intelligence community. Mossad chiefs are typically promoted from within the agency’s upper ranks, with very few appointments coming from the military.
Even among those external candidates, it is rare for someone recently promoted to Major-General or lacking multiple senior general-level assignments to receive the nomination.
According to earlier reports, the leading contender for the position had been an internal Mossad figure known only as “A,” a senior and widely respected official who enjoyed significant support within key segments of the agency. Netanyahu’s choice to bypass this candidate marks a notable deviation from internal expectations.
Security analysts say the decision reflects the prime minister’s increasing preference for trusted personal allies during a period of heightened geopolitical and domestic challenges. The appointment of a close aide with whom Netanyahu works daily may signal the premier’s desire for absolute alignment between Israel’s political leadership and its intelligence operations.
Sources familiar with the intelligence community note that while Gofman is highly regarded for his battlefield record and operational skill, he will face a steep learning curve in adapting to the Mossad’s unique culture and global mission structure.
The agency, responsible for counterterrorism, covert action, and overseas intelligence collection, traditionally prizes deep institutional familiarity.
Still, Gofman’s supporters argue that his operational sharpness, crisis management experience, and proven capacity to work at the highest levels of government may offer the Mossad a fresh strategic perspective. His combat leadership during Israel’s most recent military crisis is seen by some as a decisive factor in gaining Netanyahu’s trust.
Once approved by the advisory committee, Gofman will begin a months-long transition process, working closely with outgoing director David Barnea to ensure continuity. As global intelligence challenges evolve—from cyber warfare to Iranian regional activity—Gofman will take charge during one of the most volatile periods in Israel’s recent history.
His nomination underscores both the unpredictability of Israel’s political-security dynamics and the prime minister’s determination to place confidants in key national security roles, even when doing so defies traditional succession lines.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members