Who Is Roman Gofman? Israel Appoints a New Mossad Chief with No Prior Intelligence Experience

In a surprising and unprecedented move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed his Military Secretary, Major General Roman Gofman, as the next Director of Mossad, Israel’s powerful and globally feared intelligence agency. Gofman will replace current chief David Barnea, whose five-year term ends in June 2026.

The decision has sparked intense debate in Israel, as Gofman has no prior background in intelligence, and Netanyahu chose him over two senior candidates recommended by Barnea. The Prime Minister’s Office, however, issued a strong statement defending the appointment, calling Gofman “an exceptionally capable officer” whose performance during wartime proved his professional excellence.

Who Is Roman Gofman?

Born in Belarus in 1976, Gofman immigrated to Israel at the age of 14.
He joined the Israeli military in 1995 and has since had an extensive career in the armed forces.

• On 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel, Gofman was serving as the Commander of the National Infantry Training Center.
• He was seriously injured in a firefight with Hamas militants near the southern Israeli city of Sderot, close to the Gaza border.
• After recovering, he joined Netanyahu’s office in April 2024, becoming part of the Prime Minister’s close advisory team.

His rapid rise and personal proximity to Netanyahu have drawn significant attention.

A Choice Reflecting Israel’s Political Landscape

This is not the first time Netanyahu has selected an intelligence chief from outside the traditional hierarchy. He previously appointed David Zini as the head of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, also bypassing experienced insiders.

While Zini’s appointment triggered political storm, Gofman’s selection has not drawn the same scale of controversy—although criticism is growing.

Gofman is known for his right-wing religious-nationalist outlook, admired particularly within conservative Jewish circles.
He studied at Eli Yeshiva, a religious school located in a settlement in the occupied West Bank.
However, unlike many religious Jews, he does not wear the traditional yarmulke skullcap.

Criticism: Loyalty Over Expertise?

Several commentators in Israel have questioned the wisdom of assigning Mossad’s leadership to someone with no intelligence experience.

Left-leaning newspaper Haaretz columnist Uri Misgav described Gofman as “unfit to lead Mossad”, arguing that his appointment is based more on loyalty to Netanyahu than professional qualifications.

Despite this criticism, Netanyahu’s office maintains that Gofman’s wartime leadership and strategic acumen make him the right choice for the role—especially at a time when Israel faces mounting threats from Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and global terror networks.