Allied Intelligence Services — 2026-05-27

Israel Advisory Panel Reapproves Gofman as Mossad Chief in 3-1 Vote Despite Chair Dissent

BLUFGofman will likely assume the Mossad directorship by June 9, as the 3-1 reaffirmation and the chair's failure to read the WhatsApp file leave petitioners no viable basis for further judicial delay.

The Senior Appointments Advisory Committee voted 3-1 on May 26 to reaffirm Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman's appointment as Mossad director, with the majority writing that supplemental hearings "substantially and meaningfully" strengthened their approval 123. Chair Asher Grunis, a retired Supreme Court president, dissented again, writing that Gofman remained "tainted" by his 2022 divisional command and that the 511-page WhatsApp file at issue required review by a military official 12. The majority wrote that Grunis had not read those messages, called that omission "regrettable," and found no evidence that Gofman had known Elmakayes's identity or that classified material had been passed to him 1. The High Court ordered responses from all parties by 6 p.m. Wednesday, with Gofman set to replace outgoing director David Barnea on June 2 12.

Analysis
Gofman will likely assume the Mossad directorship by June 9. The committee fulfilled the court's explicit mandate, and the majority's finding, corroborated across Haaretz, Times of Israel, and Jerusalem Post, that no classified material reached Elmakayes removes the strongest hook for judicial intervention. We have high confidence in this assessment because the evidentiary record contains no internal contradiction that could sustain a further delay. Grunis's failure to read the 511-page WhatsApp file weakens the dissent and removes the court's clearest basis for ordering expert review. Should the court nonetheless accept his argument that only a military official can assess that content, a mandatory review could block the June 2 transfer, leaving allied services to manage directorial uncertainty through active wartime operations.

3 sources

Committee approves Netanyahu Mossad pick Roman Gofman once more Grunis opposes - Jerusalem Post
Senior committee re-approves Gofman's appointment as next Mossad chief - The Times of Israel
Netanyahu's Mossad Chief Pick Cleared by State Panel Despite Chair's Objection - Haaretz