Roman Hofman Takes Over Mossad, Becoming First Ex-Soviet Immigrant to Hold Israel's Top Spy Post
Updated
Updated · news.inbox.lv · Jun 2
Roman Hofman Takes Over Mossad, Becoming First Ex-Soviet Immigrant to Hold Israel's Top Spy Post
2 articles · Updated · news.inbox.lv · Jun 2
Roman Hofman, a 49-year-old major general and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military secretary, was appointed head of Israel’s Mossad, replacing David Barnea.
Born in the Belarusian SSR in 1976, Hofman immigrated to Israel in 1990 and rose through the army, making his appointment a rare ascent from immigrant officer to intelligence chief.
Dmitry Hendelman, an adviser in the prime minister’s office, called it the highest security post ever held in Israel by an immigrant from the former Soviet Union.
At Hofman’s inauguration, Netanyahu tied the leadership change to Israel’s security priorities, saying the country would not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.
Mossad, one of Israel’s three main intelligence agencies, reports directly to the prime minister and handles foreign intelligence, counterterrorism and overseas special operations.