The head of the Mossad spy agency has changed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has named his military adviser, General Roman Goffman, as the new head of the Mossad spy agency, a move that has sparked widespread controversy in Israeli security circles.
Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting today (Thursday): “I have decided to appoint my military adviser, General Roman Goffman, as head of the Mossad.”
He described the choice as the result of a comprehensive assessment of the regime’s needs and Israel’s intelligence situation in the coming phase.
Netanyahu praised Roman Goffman, saying: “He is an energetic, forward-thinking officer who is interested in being on the scene and has proven leadership qualities, creativity, intelligence, and operational skills at a world-class level.”
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced in a statement that the term of the current Mossad chief, David Barnea, will end next June after five years.
The statement said: Roman Goffman has held numerous operational and command positions, including commander in the Armored Forces, commander of the 75th Battalion in the 7th Division, operations officer in the 36th Division, commander of the Etzion Brigade, commander of the 7th Division, and his current position as the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary in the army.
Some former security officials have seen this move as a sign of Netanyahu’s desire to “tighten control” over Mossad, similar to what happened earlier with