[80766] Sharp criticism by Justice Stein regarding petitions against the appointment of Major General Gofman as Head of the Mossad

Sharp criticism by Justice Stein regarding petitions against the appointment of Major General Gofman as Head of the Mossad

In a ruling published on June 1, 2026, Supreme Court Justice Alex Stein rejected the petitions filed against the candidacy of Major General Roman Gofman for the position of Head of the Mossad. As reported by Amit Segal and Moti Kastel, Stein determined that there is no substance to the claims against Gofman, and that the mandate for appointing the Head of the Mossad lies with the Prime Minister and not with the Court.

Stein directed sharp criticism toward the Attorney General, writing that he "rejects with both hands" the attempt to turn the discussion into a "Gofman trial." The Justice wondered about the Attorney General's position, which held that the outgoing Head of the Mossad's opinion regarding Gofman's fitness should be examined, and noted that he does not understand her position seeking to decide on the appointment under the guise of judicial review.

In addition, Stein spoke out against the Movement for Quality Government and its representative, Adv. Eliad Shraga, who labeled Gofman a "serial criminal" during the hearing. Stein wondered how such an accusation is recorded as a matter of routine without factual basis, and noted that this is a man of many achievements who dedicated his life to the security of the state. According to him, as reported by Yossi Yehoshua and Netael Bandel, "We must not invent a 'legal rule' that does not exist in reality" in order to prefer a minority opinion in the advisory committee.

Reports in Israel News | Without Censorship systems highlighted Stein's support for the Prime Minister's right to determine the appointment, while rejecting the attempts by public petitioners to intervene in these decisions. The discussion reflects ongoing tension between the judiciary and the senior legal echelon in the government regarding the powers of appointment for senior positions.