Reserve Colonel Ofir Levi Appointed Deputy Head of Israel's National Security Council Amid Legal Concerns

The Israeli government is set to approve the appointment of Reserve Colonel Ofir Levi as the new deputy head of the National Security Council (NSC), replacing Gil Reich who ended his term on May 31, 2026. The nomination, initiated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and endorsed by the incoming NSC head Shmuel Ben Ezra, comes amid an ongoing multi-front war requiring urgent operational leadership.

Levi brings extensive military experience, including command of Reserve Brigade 679, deputy commander of Division 210, and head of armored corps doctrine. He also has civilian roles as an advisor to Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and a director at Golan Heights wineries. Academically, he holds a bachelor's degree from Ariel University and a master's in political science from the University of Haifa.

Despite unanimous recommendation by the Civil Service Commissioner’s appointments committee, the nomination faced legal scrutiny. A detailed legal opinion highlighted procedural flaws, particularly the failure to actively seek female candidates as mandated by law and recent Supreme Court rulings from June 23, 2026. The outgoing NSC head and Prime Minister stressed the critical need to fill the position swiftly due to the war’s demands, noting no available female officers with the required operational experience in the IDF. The appointments committee accepted that genuine efforts were made to consider women within a limited professional pool and justified approving Levi’s appointment despite procedural shortcomings.

Levi has also signed a conflict of interest agreement addressing his son’s role as a parliamentary aide to MK Tzvi Sukkot. The government is expected to formalize his appointment in an upcoming cabinet meeting.