First Mossad chief from former Soviet Union appointed in Israel

Israel has appointed Roman Gofman, a major general and an immigrant from Belarus, as the next director of the Mossad, its national intelligence agency. This historic appointment marks the first time a leader of the prominent spy agency hails from a former Soviet republic.

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I am proudly appointing Roman Gofman as the next director of the Mossad.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Gofman's selection on social media platform X, stating his pride in the appointment. During the swearing-in ceremony, Netanyahu declared that Gofman's primary mission would be to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions. "We will not allow it to obtain nuclear weapons and will not allow it to threaten our existence," the prime minister asserted.

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We will not allow it to obtain nuclear weapons and will not allow it to threaten our existence.

Gofman, who immigrated to Israel in 1990, began his military career in the armored corps after attending a military boarding school. He achieved the rank of brigadier general in 2019 and was injured during the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Netanyahu's advisor, Dmitry Gendelman, noted that this is the highest security post ever held by a representative of immigrants from former Soviet Union countries in Israel's history.

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This is the highest post in the security structures ever held by a representative of immigrants from the former Soviet Union countries in the history of Israel.