The New Mossad Chief Roman Gofman: An Immigrant Who Became Netanyahu's Closest Confidant

Roman Gofman, the military secretary to Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is set to become the next director of the Mossad. He will begin his role as head of Mossad in June 2026, succeeding the current chief, David Barnea. According to the Jewish Virtual Library, a “career Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officer, Gofman rose through the ranks of the Armoured Corps before transitioning into senior advisory roles within the Prime Minister’s Office. His appointment marks a notable departure from precedent, as he is among the first Mossad chiefs to come directly from a military rather than an intelligence background.” Born in Mozyr, Belarus (then part of the Soviet Union) on 30 November 1976, he immigrated with his parents to Israel in 1990

during the period known as post-Soviet Aliyah. This term refers to the mass migration of Jews to Israel after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, when over one million Jews moved from former Soviet countries during the 1990s.Gofman grew up in the Israeli city of Ashdod, one of the country’s most important industrial centres. He had a difficult childhood and has spoken about the sense of alienation he experienced after moving to Israel. This led him to take up competitive boxing. According to Ron Crissy for Ynet Global, in a 2022 interview with Yedioth Ahronoth, he said his coach instilled the motto that shaped his approach to command: “When a threat or challenge comes, you don’t close your eyes.” He holds a degree in Political Science and National Security Studies.In 1995, he enlisted in the IDF and joined the Armoured Corps. During his long career, he has held key positions such as company commander, battalion commander in the 7th Armoured Brigade, and later commander of the Etzion Regional Brigade during a period of heightened security tensions in the West Bank. He subsequently commanded the 7th Armoured Brigade and served in senior operational and planning roles within the Ground Forces, according to the Jewish Virtual Library.Gofman was involved in controversy in 2022 when, as an IDF commander, he approved the use of a 17-year-old minor. The teenager, Ori Elmakayes, was involved in an Arabic-language influence campaign targeting Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, which led to his prolonged detention by security authorities after he was accused of publishing classified information, as reported by Lazar Berman and Emanuel Fabian for The Times of Israel. At the time, Gofman was commanding the IDF’s 210th “Bashan” Regional Division in the Golan Heights.On 7 October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israeli civilians, he was serving as commander of the Tzeelim training base. According to reports, he went to the Gaza border and was involved in a firefight at Sha’ar Hanegev Junction, just outside Sderot, with Hamas-led militants. He was seriously injured during the incident.

Mossad: Israel’s Elite Intelligence Agency

One of the three major intelligence organisations of Israel, along with Aman (military intelligence) and Shin Bet (internal security), Mossad is responsible for foreign intelligence gathering, intelligence analysis and covert operations. According to the Mossad Israeli Secret Intelligence Service website, it is “responsible for collecting intelligence to help Israel’s decision-makers shape national security policies. In addition to intelligence collection, the Mossad uses its capabilities to conduct strategic operations designed to safeguard the Middle East and maintain international stability.”