Overview
- Israel’s High Court, which convenes Tuesday, is hearing petitions against Roman Gofman’s appointment, and Netanyahu plans to cite a former military advocate’s review that recommended only a reprimand rather than criminal charges.
- Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara asked the court to void the nomination, citing an unauthorized 2022 operation that used a 17-year-old for online influence work and resulted in classified material reaching him.
- Outgoing Mossad director David Barnea warned in a letter that naming Gofman could cause serious damage to an agency with little external oversight and reflects grave failures of judgment and control.
- The senior appointments panel’s chair, former chief justice Asher Grunis, issued a dissent that flagged the use of a minor and what he called incorrect answers as a serious integrity issue, even as other members backed the pick.
- The court’s ruling could redefine how far courts can review security appointments made by the prime minister, with Gofman slated to take over in early June and the Mossad reporting directly to the premier.