Netanyahu Appoints Roman Gofman as New Mossad Chief Despite No Intelligence Background

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed Major General Roman Gofman as the next director of Mossad, marking one of the rare instances in which a senior military officer — without prior intelligence experience — will lead Israel’s powerful foreign intelligence agency. Gofman, who currently serves as Netanyahu’s military secretary, will take over when incumbent Mossad chief David Barnea completes his term in June 2026.

Gofman was born in Belarus in 1976 and immigrated to Israel at age 14. He joined the IDF’s armoured corps in 1995 and went on to build an extensive military career. During the 2023 Gaza war, launched after Hamas’s October 7 attacks, he served as commander of the national infantry training centre and sustained serious injuries during clashes in Sderot, near the Gaza border.

He later transitioned to the Prime Minister’s Office in April 2024 as military secretary. Like David Zini — recently appointed to head Shin Bet — Gofman represents Netanyahu’s preference for elevating trusted military figures to top security roles, even if they come from outside the intelligence establishment.

Although not an observant Jew, Gofman studied at Ely yeshiva, an institution aligned with right-wing religious Zionism in the West Bank. Critics argue that loyalty rather than expertise shaped Netanyahu’s choice. Haaretz columnist Uri Misgav said Gofman was “unfit to head Mossad” due to his lack of intelligence background.

Netanyahu’s office defended the appointment, describing Gofman as an “officer of great merit” whose performance during wartime demonstrated “exceptional professional capabilities,” according to a statement quoted by The Times of Israel. The PMO emphasised that Gofman rapidly took charge in his role and was involved across “the seven arenas of the war.”

Mossad, widely regarded as one of the world’s most formidable intelligence organisations, was not held responsible for the intelligence lapses that preceded the October 7 attacks, as Palestinian territories fall largely outside its operational scope. While the chiefs of Shin Bet and Aman resigned over failures, Mossad has been credited for high-impact operations during ongoing regional conflicts, including the 2024 elimination of Hezbollah’s general staff and strikes targeting Iran’s military apparatus during the June Israel–Iran confrontation.

Gofman’s appointment signals a notable shift in Israel’s security leadership structure as the country continues to navigate multi-front tensions and geopolitical uncertainty.