Overview
- A majority of the Advisory Committee for Senior Appointments submitted a supplementary opinion on Tuesday that cleared Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman of integrity failings after reviewing testimony and 511 pages of WhatsApp messages.
- Attorney General Gali Baharav‑Miara filed a late submission to the High Court on Thursday arguing Gofman committed a severe ethical failure, saying he withheld information and asking the court to disqualify the appointment.
- Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu publicly backed the committee majority and intends for Gofman to assume the Mossad post in early June unless the court rules otherwise.
- The dispute raises procedural concerns because the committee chair, retired Justice Asher Grunis, admitted he had not read the requested WhatsApp logs and the Attorney General’s opinion was reportedly sent only to him and not shared with other committee members.
- The High Court has ordered responses to the committee’s supplementary opinion and its ruling will decide both Gofman’s fate and how far courts may review prime‑ministerial security nominations, with possible effects on Mossad leadership and institutional oversight.