The Grunis Committee Re-Approves Gofman as Head of Israeli Intelligence
The Prime Minister’s Office of Benjamin Netanyahu has officially confirmed the advancement of Major General Roman Gofman to the position of Director of the Mossad foreign intelligence service. Despite sharp public debate, the new leader is expected to take office on June 2, 2026, succeeding the incumbent director, David Barnea.
The Advisory Committee on Senior State Appointments (known as the Grunis Committee) has issued a second positive opinion on Gofman’s candidacy. The majority of the committee members confirmed that the candidate meets the highest standards, noting that additional reviews only strengthened their confidence in the choice. Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejected the minority opinion within the committee, which pushed to delay the process, emphasizing that the Major General had faced unwarranted bureaucratic red tape. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the High Court of Justice (BAGATZ) would dismiss any petitions against the decision, as Israel’s current security situation demands immediate action.
The controversy surrounding the appointment began after the current Mossad Director, David Barnea, sent a letter sharply criticizing his successor, pointing out Gofman’s lack of specialized intelligence experience. Roman Gofman responded to these statements, emphasizing that Barnea’s claims contained distorted facts and damaged his international reputation. Due to this dispute and petitions filed by opponents of the appointment, the High Court had previously blocked the process and ordered the committee to conduct an additional review. The approval process was also accompanied by scandals within the committee itself: some representatives accused the government’s legal apparatus of failing to provide classified materials to all participants equally, sending them exclusively to the chairman.
Roman Gofman is a figure who commands deep respect within the Israeli military. Born in Belarus (the city of Mozyr), he immigrated to Israel as a teenager and dedicated his life to military service. The General possesses immense combat experience: he previously commanded the IDF’s legendary 7th Armored Brigade and, most recently, held the strategically vital post of Military Secretary to the Prime Minister of Israel.
The appointment of Roman Gofman comes during a period of maximum turbulence for the State of Israel. The new Mossad Director will have to not only smooth over the consequences of internal friction within the agency but also counter external threats on multiple fronts. Now, the final word rests with the High Court, which is expected to put an end to this high-profile appointment in the coming days.
