Newly appointed Mossad director Roman Gofman has dismissed the agency’s deputy director, identified only as “Aleph,” in an effort to reshape the organization’s senior leadership. The decision, announced Saturday via a Prime Minister’s Office statement, marks Gofman’s first major step in forming a team to meet the intelligence agency’s upcoming goals and challenges.
Why did Roman Gofman dismiss the Mossad deputy director?
According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office on behalf of the Mossad, Gofman is terminating Aleph’s employment because he “seeks to shape the senior leadership team that will accompany him in meeting the goals and challenges facing the organization in the coming years.”
While the official reason focuses on organizational shaping, other reports suggest political and internal friction. A source with knowledge of the details told Channel 12 news that Gofman ousted Aleph to end a “saga.” Aleph was reportedly the preferred candidate of Gofman’s predecessor, David Barnea, to take over the deputy post. Additionally, Aleph was known within the agency as a “Bibist,” or a supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The dismissal is notable given Aleph’s extensive tenure. During 22 years of service, he worked in three different divisions, commanded two of them, and led several groundbreaking operations. His achievements earned him five Israel Security Prizes.
How is the agency reacting to the leadership shakeup?
The decision has drawn internal criticism, according to a report by the Ynet news outlet. Some members of the Mossad expressed a preference for Aleph to remain in his position to assist Gofman as he begins his tenure, citing concerns that the new director lacks intelligence experience and is unfamiliar with the agency.
Internal tensions may also stem from the leadership transition itself. Ynet reported that sources within the Mossad suggested Aleph might have made the transition difficult for Gofman, as Aleph reportedly viewed himself as the rightful successor to David Barnea. This tension is underscored by reports that Barnea had opposed Gofman’s appointment.
What were the legal challenges against Gofman’s appointment?
Gofman’s path to the directorship was marked by lengthy legal battles. His appointment was only finalized this past Tuesday, following the High Court of Justice’s decision on Monday to reject petitions seeking to annul his role.
The petitions centered on allegations regarding Gofman’s ethical conduct during his time as a senior commander in the IDF. In 2022, while commanding the 210th “Bashan” Regional Division in the Golan Heights, Gofman approved an Arabic-language influence campaign using a 17-year-old blogger, Ori Elmakayes. Elmakayes was tasked by a handler known as “Captain Tzur” to publish information on his Telegram channel.
The operation led to a significant legal ordeal for Elmakayes, who was arrested, interrogated by the Shin Bet, and—according to his own claims—subjected to torture and solitary confinement. While the charges against him were eventually dropped after lawyers proved his cooperation with the IDF, Elmakayes filed a petition against Gofman, alleging a failure to alert law enforcement of his cooperation constituted a major ethical violation.
An IDF investigation in May 2022 resulted in Gofman receiving a disciplinary note because he had not received authorization to use the Telegram channel for the operation. Furthermore, the Movement for Quality Government filed a petition accusing Gofman of lying during that investigation. However, the High Court rejected these petitions in a two-to-one decision, determining that while there were failures in how Gofman handled the incident, he did not “abandon” Elmakayes or deliberately mislead the investigation.
What is expected to happen next?
With the deputy position now vacant, Gofman must quickly stabilize the agency’s upper management. According to sources told Ynet, Gofman is expected to choose a new deputy from within the Mossad to fill the vacancy.
