Before the Appointment Was Approved, the Designated National Security Council Chief Attended a Cabinet Meeting

This coming Sunday, the government is expected to approve at its weekly meeting the appointment of Shmuel Ben Ezra as head of the National Security Council, but News 13 learned this morning, Friday, that even before the appointment was approved, Ben Ezra took part yesterday in a cabinet meeting. As a reminder, earlier this week Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his decision to appoint Ben Ezra as head of the National Security Council and the prime minister's national security adviser. He is expected to replace outgoing chairman Gil Reich, who had been serving in place of Tzachi Hanegbi.

In the Prime Minister's Office statement earlier this week, it was said: "Shmuel Ben Ezra brings with him more than 30 years of experience in defending the security of the state. He headed the development project for the Arrow 3 intercept missile, which won the Israel Defense Prize. In his last position in the Shin Bet, he served for four years as head of the Technology, Operations and Cyber Division (equivalent to the rank of major general)." It was also said that "Ben Ezra holds a bachelor's degree in applied physics (summa cum laude), a master's degree in applied physics, a master's degree in business administration (summa cum laude), and a master's degree in political science in the field of national security (summa cum laude). He is a graduate of the National Security College (with honors). Shmuel Ben Ezra has groundbreaking thinking and deep familiarity with the worlds of security and technology. Ben Ezra has many years of experience working with government bodies in the United States and around the world. He will help the prime minister strengthen the security, political and economic resilience of the State of Israel and advance it as a global technological power."

Earlier this year, Gil Reich, who was appointed acting head of the National Security Council in place of Tzachi Hanegbi, said he wanted to leave the post. Despite Netanyahu's desire for him to continue in the role, Reich chose to end his tenure. Hanegbi announced in October that he was ending his term as head of the National Security Council after being informed that Netanyahu had told him he would be replaced. In the prime minister's circle, personal briefings against Hanegbi were issued, and Sara Netanyahu, according to sources in the office, demanded that he stop giving interviews: "He is weak and does not defend the prime minister enough."