Mossad chief candidate Gofman approved by c'mtee once more as Grunis opposes

A committee has once again cleared Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman for appointment as the next Mossad chief, submitting a supplementary opinion to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Senior Appointments Advisory Committee's majority found that additional reviewed material did not raise integrity concerns and actually strengthened their support for Gofman.

However, committee chairman and former Supreme Court president Asher Grunis dissented. He argued in a minority opinion that further examination of the case was still necessary. Despite Grunis's dissent, Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected the minority opinion, stating Gofman had endured unnecessary hardship.

Netanyahu urged the High Court not to delay Gofman's entry into office, as the term of the outgoing Mossad chief, David Barnea, is set to end on June 2. The petitions challenging Gofman's appointment primarily center on the Ori Elmakayes affair and questions surrounding an alleged influence operation linked to the IDF during Gofman's command of the 210th Division.