Outgoing Mossad chief David Barnea warned Israel’s High Court of Justice in a letter against appointing Roman Gofman as head of the intelligence agency, saying the move could cause “serious damage” to an organization operating with limited oversight and raise serious ethical concerns tied to a case involving a minor, Israeli media reported.
The warning centered on the case of Ori Elmakayes, a minor who was allegedly recruited as an intelligence source outside authorized military channels, which led to his wrongful imprisonment. Barnea wrote that if Gofman knew about the teen’s recruitment or arrest, it would constitute “a serious moral problem” disqualifying him from leading the Mossad, while ignorance of the operation’s details would point to “an even more severe” failure of oversight.
In the letter, first published by i24, Barnea wrote that “in the current reality where the Mossad operates without supervision or oversight, the risk is very great.” According to him, activity contrary to procedures could “endanger Mossad operatives, the organization, and even cause immense damage to the State of Israel.” Barnea referred to what he called an attempt to bypass the authority of the unit responsible for operating agents on behalf of the army.
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“If such an incident had occurred in the Mossad, where a department head not specializing in operating agents took the liberty to do so, he would have been held accountable immediately,” he wrote. “I will argue that whoever knowingly violated procedures must know how the offense he was aware of developed, and how the operation he unlawfully approved progressed. If he did not know the details of the operation and did not follow its development, there is another, far more severe problem here – which certainly does not allow Gofman to head the Mossad,” he added.
According to Barnea, “the Elmakayes incident could be a pattern of a senior officer pushing the limits, who views procedures as stopping him from carrying out activities he deems necessary for Israel’s security.”
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The outgoing Mossad director wrote that “if he believes that bypassing procedures and norms can help the country’s security, this is a pattern that could develop into a serious danger if he becomes Mossad director.” Barnea added that the case embodies “the worst level of decision-making and integrity.”
Barnea wrote that a Mossad director must uphold high moral standards, exercise sound judgment and strictly follow procedures and the law. He said Gofman’s appointment was unacceptable regardless of whether he knew about the youth’s recruitment operation, and also addressed the army’s role in the Elmakayes case.
“I do not know why the army did not take responsibility for the incident, and why it did not release the minor from prolonged detention, but one thing is clear beyond any shadow of a doubt: the IDF’s duty was to prevent the minor’s arrest,” he wrote. Barnea added that receiving a disciplinary note, as Gofman did, is an unusual occurrence for an officer of brigadier general rank.
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Roman Gofman, at the Knesset, in February. Credit: Oren Ben Hakoon
Roman Gofman, at the Knesset, in February. Credit: Oren Ben Hakoon
“Maj. Gen. Baram, who gave Gofman the note, had never before given a disciplinary note to a brigadier general,” he wrote. “The note stemmed from a violation of procedures or a moral offense, or both – and both of these offenses are violations of integrity. Both of these offenses indicate a clear lack of judgment.”
Barnea wrote that, in his view, these flaws in Gofman’s conduct are sufficient to prevent his appointment even without considering his lack of experience in special operations and his insufficient deep understanding of intelligence agency work. Barnea also noted “a lack of familiarity with Mossad operations or a lack of a required working language – English.”
According to him, Gofman’s behavior “could indicate a permanent symptom of a person who could cause damage within an organization that operates without law and without oversight, in an extremely unusual manner in the entire Western world.” According to Barnea, “the risk is very great. Cutting corners could endanger Mossad operatives themselves (their lives and freedom), the organization, and even cause immense damage to the State of Israel.”