New Mossad Chief Begins Overhaul of Israeli Intelligence Agency

Roman Gofman, who recently assumed the role of Mossad chief, has started reorganizing the Israeli intelligence agency following his first official days in office.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Gofman decided on Wednesday to appoint two senior officials within the security institution: one as the internal spokesperson for Mossad and another as an external communications advisor. The latter will replace his predecessor, who was considered loyal to the outgoing Mossad chief, David Barnea.

The Hebrew newspaper highlighted the qualifications of the new chief advisor, noting that unlike his predecessor, he possesses extensive security experience. He established the spokesperson division within the Israel Security Agency (Shabak) and served there for many years before moving to another security agency, from which he is expected to retire soon.

Gofman officially took office on Tuesday during a handover ceremony attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In his speech at the ceremony, the new Mossad chief devoted a significant portion to recounting the agency's history, the legacy of the Israeli intelligence community, and the founding of the secret organization "Nili." He concluded his remarks with the phrase: "Eternal Israel will not lie."

Gofman added, "The strategic shift we imposed on the Iranian axis and its 'plan to destroy Israel' has changed the balance of power across the entire region."

He explained that the Shiite axis, which aimed to destroy Israel, suffered a humiliating defeat, emphasizing that the work of the Israeli intelligence agency is not yet complete.

"The essence of Mossad lies in covert operations targeting objectives. We will confront this with all our strength and continue to refine and develop our capabilities and methods for surprise and impact," he stated.

The Prime Minister's Office, speaking on behalf of Mossad, announced that Major General Gofman assumed the Mossad leadership after serving as the military secretary to the Prime Minister. His 31 years of military service included various senior leadership roles, such as commanding the Etzion Brigade, the Seventh Armored Brigade, and the 210th Division, according to the statement from Netanyahu's office.