Belarus-born official takes charge of Israel’s top intelligence agency
Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Getty Images)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially appointed Roman Gofman as the new director of the Mossad intelligence agency. He became the organization's 14th chief, replacing David Barnea after legal challenges related to his appointment were resolved, according to The Times of Israel.
Gofman’s appointment was accompanied by legal disputes that had continued since his nomination in December 2025.
However, Israel’s High Court of Justice recently rejected petitions seeking to block the appointment, allowing him to officially assume his duties. Before joining the intelligence service, Gofman served as the military secretary to Israel’s Prime Minister.
Netanyahu outlines key priority
During the ceremony, Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel intends to continue countering Iran and will not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons.
"This regime of terror, whose fate is to pass from the world — and we will help it reach that destination — will not again threaten us with nuclear bombs and thousands of deadly ballistic missiles," said the Prime Minister.
He stressed that countering the Iranian threat remains a top priority for Israel's intelligence community.
New intelligence chief's position
Roman Gofman also stated that Israel's operations against Iran and its affiliated groups have significantly altered the balance of power in the Middle East.
According to him, the achievements so far represent an important milestone, but the mission is not yet complete. The new director emphasized that the Mossad will continue carrying out its assigned tasks and conducting operations against threats to Israel's security.
Legal dispute over the appointment
The legal proceedings stem from an incident linked to an Israel Defense Forces information operation in 2022. Gofman was accused of misconduct related to an influence campaign carried out through Telegram.
The petitioner and several civil society organizations argued that the future intelligence chief's actions did not meet the standards expected of high-ranking officials.
However, the court concluded that the violations did not constitute deliberate deception and did not provide grounds to annul the appointment.
As a result, the judges dismissed the petitions by a majority vote, allowing Gofman to officially take office.
Belarus-born official now leads Israeli intelligence
Roman Gofman was born in Belarus and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1990 at the age of 14.
He began his military career in the Israel Defense Forces' Armored Corps, rising through the ranks from officer to division commander.
Gofman later held several senior positions outside combat units and, before being appointed Mossad director, served as the military secretary to Israel's Prime Minister.
Today, he heads one of Israel's key intelligence agencies, responsible for foreign intelligence gathering and special operations outside the country.
Earlier, Iran announced the suspension of its negotiations with the United States amid rising regional tensions. Tehran said further consultations had been postponed due to the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and the resulting instability in the Middle East.
