Mossad Chief Gofman Faces Internal Backlash Over Senior Leadership Firings

Following the recent dismissal of two senior Mossad division heads by Director Roman Gofman, significant unrest has erupted within the agency. Sources familiar with the ousted officials described Gofman's actions as a "Soviet-style headhunting operation," criticizing him for blaming the dismissed leaders for the failure of an operation that never materialized, specifically citing Turkish President Erdogan's role in halting a plan involving former U.S. President Trump.

Critics within Mossad argue that Prime Minister Netanyahu should have taken greater responsibility to ensure the operation's success instead of humiliating the division heads who were not accountable to him. The dissatisfaction centers on Gofman's frustration with the outcomes of Mossad's campaign against Iran. However, some insiders note that Gofman, who served as Netanyahu's military secretary during the "Angry Lion" operation, was a strong advocate for the Iranian plans, particularly the Kurdish operation, and pushed to expedite it.

Several Mossad officials accuse Gofman of dragging the agency into political conflicts, acting in the interests of those who appointed him, and described his move as disgraceful. Conversely, Gofman's supporters reject these claims, emphasizing his focus on the Iranian issue and his intent to refresh the agency's leadership approach. They state that Gofman held multiple meetings with the dismissed heads to discuss work methods and concluded their approach did not align with his strategic vision regarding Iran.

The internal discord highlights tensions between Mossad's leadership and its operational divisions amid sensitive geopolitical challenges, with the agency's future direction under scrutiny. No external oversight exists over Mossad, intensifying the impact of these internal disputes. The situation remains fluid as the agency navigates its role in Israel's national security strategy.