AG Moves to Disqualify Goffman as New Mossad Chief

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara told the High Court of Justice on Sunday that Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman should be disqualified from serving as the next head of the Mossad, citing what she described as substantial flaws in the appointment process.

In a filing to the court, Baharav-Miara said an examination of the appointment committee’s decision and the broader circumstances showed problems in the way the committee handled the matter, the factual basis relied upon by the committee majority, and the conclusions it reached.

“This is sufficient to warrant the cancellation of the prime minister’s decision regarding the appointment,” she wrote.

The attorney general also informed the court that her office had received a confidential letter from the current Mossad chief ahead of the filing. She said the document could be submitted to the court ex parte and behind closed doors if the justices deemed it necessary.

Baharav-Miara described the letter as a substantive document dealing with the unique nature of the Mossad and its relevance to how the appointments committee examines integrity and suitability for the role.

The move escalates the legal battle over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to appoint Gofman as the next Mossad director. It also places the High Court at the center of one of Israel’s most sensitive security appointments, involving the leadership of the country’s foreign intelligence service.

According to officials speaking in closed-door discussions Sunday, coalition members are increasingly concerned that if the High Court accepts the attorney general’s position and blocks the appointment, it could trigger a direct confrontation between the government and the judiciary.

Such a clash would come amid already heightened tensions between the coalition and legal establishment, including over the powers of the attorney general, judicial oversight and senior appointments. Government figures have repeatedly accused Baharav-Miara of obstructing policy and appointments, while the attorney general has argued that her office is enforcing legal standards and protecting proper governance.

The court has not yet ruled on the petitions against Gofman’s appointment. If the justices request the Mossad chief’s confidential letter, the material is expected to be reviewed under strict secrecy because of the sensitivity of the organization and the position in question.

For now, the attorney general’s position marks a significant obstacle to Gofman taking office and raises the stakes of the pending High Court decision.