Gofman was appointed as the next head of the Mossad in April this year, but several petitions were filed against him, including one by a blogger whom Gofman had authorized to publish classified information in a social media influence campaign while he was serving as the commander of the IDF\u2019s 210th Division.<\/p>\n
The blogger, Ori Elmakayes who was 17 at the time, was subsequently arrested and indicted for espionage and was only exonerated 18 months later, during which time Gofman did not inform the Shin Bet or the prosecution services that Elmakayes had been cooperating with the IDF.<\/p>\n
\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/F260416TA19-e1778413570782-640x400.jpg\")
\n\t\tOri Elmakayes poses for a portrait in the southern city of Ashkelon, April 15, 2026. (Tsafrir Abayov\/Flash90)<\/p>\n
Gofman was investigated by the IDF and given a disciplinary note in his record over the incident, although due to the fact that he had denied knowledge of the influence operation and not for his failure to intervene for Elmkayes, or for the fact that Elmakayes had been a minor at the time.<\/p>\n
The petitions against Gofman\u2019s appointment as Mossad head charge that the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee, which approved his candidacy, failed to properly address Gofman\u2019s role in this incident, particularly if he lied to the IDF\u2019s investigation team.<\/p>\n
Following a hearing on Tuesday, the High Court ordered a military intelligence officer who had knowledge of the Elmakayes affair, referred to as Gimmel, to file an affidavit to the court to clarify the facts of the incident.<\/p>\n
Following the October 7, 2023, attacks, Gimmel moved to work in the Mossad. In the notice filed to the High Court on Thursday morning, the Attorney General\u2019s Office noted that during preparatory meetings for taking up his new position, Gofman met with the head of the Mossad department, where Gimmel now serves, on April 15, and was told that the Mossad has decided to end Gimmel\u2019s work with the agency.<\/p>\n
Then on May 12, the day of the High Court hearing but before it took place, Gofman held further such meetings, and told Gimmel\u2019s department head he would \u201cconsider the issue\u201d of Gimmel\u2019s departure from the agency.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General\u2019s Office appears to have been concerned that Gofman\u2019s comments about Gimmel may have been designed to influence the outcome of the petitions against him, although the comments were made before the High Court issued its order for Gimmel to file an affidavit on the affair.<\/p>\n
\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/F260512YS223-1-640x400.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe High Court of Justice hears petitions against the appointment of Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman as the next head of the Mossad, May 12, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel\/Flash90)<\/p>\n
Harel Arnon, the attorney representing Netanyahu in the petition proceedings, described the information provided by the Attorney General\u2019s Office as \u201cworthless,\u201d and accused Baharav-Miara of filing the request \u201cto create an uproar over nothing,\u201d and to defend her opposition to the appointment.<\/p>\n
\u201cA review of the letter reveals that it has one goal: to continue to cast aspersions on Maj. Gen. Gofman, and cause his appointment to be canceled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe apparent foot-dragging and delays by the attorney general in fulfilling her duty to submit Gimmel\u2019s affidavit as soon as possible in order to try and cast aspersions, by implication, on Maj. Gen. Gofman is deplorable,\u201d Netanyahu\u2019s attorney wrote to the court.<\/p>\n
He also requested that the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee take Gimmel\u2019s affidavit and not the attorney general, who he said could record Gimmel\u2019s account misleadingly.<\/p>\n
Although the court dismissed the attorney general\u2019s concerns, it did not agree to the request for the affidavit to be taken by the committee.<\/p>\n
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