[56923] Mossad Chief Appointment Storm: Netanyahu Against Barnea and Against the Criticism of His Selection of Roman Gofman

The Storm Over the Appointment of the Next Mossad Chief

The Israeli security establishment and the political echelon are in an uproar following the exposure of a letter from Mossad Chief, Dadi Barnea, to the Supreme Court justices and the legal counsel, in which he expresses firm opposition to the appointment of Major General Roman Gofman as his successor. According to the report by Avishai Grinzaig on Kol HaHadashot, Barnea claimed that in the case of the activation of Officer Elmakies, there is a "serious moral problem" and a "clear lack of judgment" on the part of Gofman, and stated that "there is no possibility and no reasonableness" in appointing him.

In response to the exposure, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reprimanded Barnea for the step he took, as reported by ynet News. Netanyahu clarified that the Mossad is directly subordinate to the Prime Minister, and emphasized: "The one who appoints the head of the Mossad is only the Prime Minister. Not the legal advisor, not the High Court of Justice - and not the media." According to Netanyahu, Gofman is a "heroic warrior" and possesses "independent thinking," and wondered if the opposition stems from the fact that Gofman is "not from the clique" or from political considerations.

The affair sparked mixed reactions in the political system. Michael Shemesh reported on a dispute in the opposition: while Avigdor Liberman defined the appointment as "very appropriate," Yair Lapid claimed that Gofman is "not suitable for head of the Mossad." Conversely, Yossi Yehoshua noted critically that those opposing the appointment, such as Danny Yatom, are trying to influence the process in violation of accepted norms.

Ben Caspit, who frequently criticizes Netanyahu, described Barnea's letter as a "legitimate warning" from the professional echelon, and argued that Netanyahu's reprimand of Barnea demonstrates the Prime Minister's conduct toward security officials who raise professional warnings or objections.