Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reprimanded outgoing Mossad Director David Barnea on Sunday following the discovery that Barnea sent a confidential letter to Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara opposing the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman as the agency’s next chief.
Authority and Internal Conflict
The dispute centers on a letter sent by Barnea, which served as part of his testimony against Gofman’s appointment during the Grunis Committee hearings. Prime Minister Netanyahu has claimed that by sending this communication, Barnea “exceeded his authority.”
In response, Barnea argued that the contents of the letter were essentially the same statements he had made on other occasions. He maintained that the letter was sent to the Attorney-General to ensure his official position was properly presented before the judges.
The Prime Minister’s Position
Prime Minister Netanyahu issued an official statement asserting his sole authority over the appointment process, stating, “The one who appoints the head of the Mossad is only the Prime Minister.” He further emphasized that by law, both the Mossad and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) are directly subordinate to the prime minister, adding that the directors are appointed by the prime minister rather than the media, the High Court of Justice, or the attorney-general.
Netanyahu strongly defended Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, describing him as a “heroic fighter” and one of the IDF’s most highly regarded operational commanders. The Prime Minister highlighted Gofman’s contributions during the war, specifically citing operations Rising Lion and Roaring Lion, where Gofman reportedly displayed “out-of-the-box thinking” and “exceptional leadership.”
Netanyahu attributed his choice of Gofman to the general’s:
- Courage and initiative
- Determination
- Independent thinking
- Supreme responsibility for Israel’s security
“So why are we trying to disqualify him? Because he’s not part of the clique? Because he came from the Soviet Union? Because of political considerations? Because he is my military secretary?”
Legal Challenges to the Appointment
The internal friction follows a submission to the High Court of Justice by Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, who is opposing Gofman’s appointment. Baharav-Miara argues that the decision to appoint Gofman to the senior security position “cannot stand legally.”
The Attorney-General’s opposition is based on the case of Ori Elmakayes, which she claims reveals “serious flaws” in Gofman’s integrity and “casts a heavy shadow” over his suitability for the role. She alleged that the senior appointments committee’s examination process was flawed and that the majority decision to approve Gofman was based on a factual foundation that was “incomplete and insufficient.”
Potential Implications
The clash between the Prime Minister’s office and the legal establishment suggests a significant tension regarding the vetting process for Israel’s top security officials. Because the Attorney-General has petitioned the High Court of Justice, the final appointment of Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman may depend on the court’s interpretation of the integrity flaws cited in the Elmakayes case.
A possible next step could involve a judicial review of the senior appointments committee’s process to determine if the factual foundation used to approve Gofman was indeed insufficient, which could potentially lead to the appointment being overturned or upheld.
