Reserve Colonel Ofir Levi Appointed Deputy Head of National Security Council for Five Years

The Israeli government approved the appointment of Reserve Colonel Ofir Levi as the new Deputy Head of the National Security Council (NSC) for a five-year term. Levi, who previously commanded Reserve Brigade 679 and served as Head of Armored Corps Doctrine, will replace Gil Reich, who left the position to lead the Defense Ministry's Planning Directorate. The appointment was made on the recommendation of the NSC Chief, Shmuel Ben Ezra, and endorsed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Levi's extensive military and security background includes senior roles such as Deputy Commander of the Golan Regional Division 210 and advisor on border defense for Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. He holds a bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences with a focus on organizational consulting from Ariel University and a master's degree in political science from the University of Haifa. The term of appointment is five years, with the possibility of extension up to a total of ten years. Gil Reich concluded his NSC role on May 31, 2026, to assume his new position at the Defense Ministry, prompting the leadership change at the NSC.