Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that his military secretary, Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, will become the next director of the Mossad.
Current Mossad chief David Barnea will complete his five-year term in June 2026. According to Channel 12, Netanyahu’s choice of Gofman — who did not come up through the Mossad ranks — means he rejected two candidates recommended by Barnea.
The appointment has been submitted to the Advisory Committee for Senior Appointments.
Unlike the contentious appointment of David Zini to lead the Shin Bet, significant opposition is not expected this time.
Gofman was born in Belarus and immigrated to Israel in 1990. In the IDF, he advanced from a tank commander to a division commander and held key roles during the war.
Netanyahu called him an “outstanding officer,” highlighting his initiative, creativity, discretion, and ability to coordinate intelligence and security bodies.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir congratulated Gofman, stressing the importance of cooperation between the IDF and Mossad.
Gofman is seen as close to the prime minister. For nearly two years as Netanyahu’s military secretary, he carried out sensitive missions and ensured the implementation of the prime minister’s directives within the army.
His career also included controversies — notably the case involving a teenage blogger used to disseminate information online. Gofman said he was unaware of the blogger’s age.
In 2023, he was seriously wounded in a firefight with Hamas near Sha’ar HaNegev. After recovering, he participated in major defense operations and was later appointed the prime minister’s military secretary.
His recommendations — including maintaining military control over Gaza after the war — sparked debate but did not impede his advancement.
While rare, appointing a military general to lead the Mossad is not unprecedented: Meir Dagan and Danny Yatom also arrived at the agency after long IDF careers.
Source: timesofisrael.com, translation: jewish.org.ua