Third Senior Mossad Official Departs Under New Leadership
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
The head of the Mossad's elite Caesarea operations wing has requested an early departure after 18 months, becoming the third senior official to leave under Mossad chief Roman Gofman. The move follows reported disagreements and criticism that Gofman is stifling the agency's culture of open dialogue. Gofman's associates deny that he dismissed the official, stating the departure was voluntary. The Caesarea wing is the Mossad's primary clandestine operations unit.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Head of Mossad's elite Caesarea wing seeks early exit after 18 months.
- This is the third senior official to leave under Mossad chief Roman Gofman.
- Departure follows reported disagreements with Mossad chief Gofman.
- Security source criticizes Gofman for stifling agency's open dialogue.
- Associates of Gofman deny he dismissed the official.
- Caesarea wing is Mossad's most prestigious clandestine operations unit.
The head of the prestigious Caesarea operations wing in Israel's Mossad intelligence agency has requested to end his term prematurely, after only a year and a half. This marks the third senior official to leave the organization under the tenure of current Mossad chief Roman Gofman. The departure comes amid reported disagreements between the Caesarea wing head and Gofman.
A security source criticized Gofman, stating that since taking office, he has attempted to change the agency's "DNA" by stifling open dialogue and discouraging dissent. The source argued that the Mossad's success stems from its culture of encouraging "out-of-the-box" thinking and questioning, which Gofman is allegedly hindering. This environment, the source claims, is prompting officials to seek early departures.
However, individuals close to Gofman rejected these claims, asserting that the Caesarea wing head requested to leave after 18 months and that he remains in his post until he decides to conclude his service. They also stated that Gofman did not dismiss the official.
The Caesarea wing is described as the Mossad's most prestigious and secretive operational unit, responsible for clandestine special operations abroad, including the Kidon unit. Its mission includes special human intelligence gathering, covert operations, and eliminating enemy targets overseas.
This departure follows Gofman's recent dismissals of the heads of the Intelligence Directorate and the Iran branch. These earlier dismissals were reportedly linked to the failure of a plan to utilize 15,000 Kurdish militia forces for a ground invasion of Iran and to instigate a regime change during the "Roaring Lion" war.