Al-Mayadeen reported on Saturday that a political and security storm is brewing in Israel following a Channel 13 report that revealed a lengthy meeting between Roman Goffman and Sarah Netanyahu days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Goffman’s appointment as head of Mossad.
The revelations reported by Maariv drew widespread scrutiny within Israel’s security services. Goffman, who currently serves as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military chief, is expected to take over as Mossad leader in June 2026.
According to Marib, this is not the first time Prime Minister Sara Netanyahu has been involved in appointing a senior security official. The newspaper recalled previous documented cases of her interference in key positions within the security apparatus, raising widespread concerns about her influence over official decisions.
Officials confirmed that the meeting between Goffman and Sara Netanyahu took place shortly before his appointment was made public. The timing of the closed session raised questions and discomfort among Mossad officials, many of whom reportedly expressed surprise at the decision.
In 2012, Brigadier General Guy Soule was summoned to the prime minister’s office for an official conference, but instead received an unexpected question from Sara Netanyahu.
Goffman’s appointment, the second Mossad director ever chosen from outside the agency, was welcomed by the ruling coalition. However, sources within Mossad reportedly expressed misgivings about the decision, especially in light of the ongoing internal investigation into Goffman’s role in the arrest of controversial Askaran boy Ori Almakis.
Mr. Marib further fueled the controversy by citing an incident involving former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, who, according to testimony from businessman Arnon Milchan and his aide Hadas Klein, pledged personal loyalty to both Mr. Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu in 2013 in order to secure their nomination to head the National Security Council.