Netanyahu Reprimands Outgoing Mossad Chief Over Letter Opposing Successor

-Gen. Roman Gofman as his replacement. The letter was part of Barnea's testimony against the appointment at the Grunis Committee hearings. Netanyahu stated that Barnea exceeded his authority by sending the letter. Barnea responded that the letter contained the same position he had expressed in other instances and that he sent it so his official stance could be presented to the judges.

Netanyahu issued an official statement saying the one who appoints the head of the Mossad is only the prime minister. "The Mossad and Shin Bet are directly subordinate to the prime minister by law. The prime minister is the one who appoints their directors - not the attorney-general, not the High Court of Justice, and not the media," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu described Gofman as a heroic fighter who is strong-willed and one of the most highly regarded operational commanders in the IDF. During the war, including operations Rising Lion and Roaring Lion, Gofman provided exceptional leadership and displayed out-of-the-box thinking, according to Netanyahu.

"Gofman has courage, initiative, determination, and above all, independent thinking and supreme responsibility for Israel's security. People like him should be at the head of the Mossad, and that is why I chose him," Netanyahu said. He asked why there were attempts to disqualify Gofman, suggesting possible reasons including that he is not part of a clique, came from the Soviet Union, political considerations or that he served as military secretary.

"Gofman was chosen by the prime minister to be the next head of Mossad, and he will lead Mossad from strength to strength," Netanyahu concluded.