David Barnea, former top agent, appointed next Mossad chief
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that the next director of Israel’s Mossad espionage agency will be David Barnea, 56, a veteran of the organization who has been its deputy head for the past two years.
Barnea, who is also known by his nickname Dedi, will replace
outgoing director Yossi Cohen, Netanyahu said at the annual ceremony conferring
the Prime Minister’s Award for exceptional Mossad officers.
Barnea’s top task, the prime minister declared, “is to
prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”
The appointment of Barnea, a married father of four, was
expected. He served as a combat soldier in the elite Sayeret Matkal commando
unit and has been in the Mossad for the past 25 years, including in prominent
operational roles that saw him rise to lead the branch that handles the
organization’s agents worldwide.
He was appointed Cohen’s deputy in 2019, and will take over
as director on June 1.
The appointment was held up for months — Netanyahu announced
he had chosen Cohen’s replacement back in December, though the name was kept
secret until Monday — by legal concerns as to whether an interim government is
permitted to appoint a Mossad director. But Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit
informed Netanyahu recently that he saw no legal impediments, and the
appointment went ahead.
“I wish [Barnea] all success in the post, and I’m convinced
the incoming Mossad director will do great things and will continue to lead the
Mossad to operational successes and meaningful achievements,” Cohen said in a
brief statement at the event.
Barnea’s appointment was welcomed by President Reuven Rivlin,
who wished him luck.
“Dear Dedi, I have no doubt that you will lead our excellent
Mossad members with professionalism, wisdom, and courage,” Rivlin said in a
statement. “I am confident that your diverse and impressive abilities and your
many years of service for the country will guide you on your path to ensuring
the security and operational superiority of Israel.”
Defense Minister Benny Gantz also wished Barnea luck and
thanked Cohen for “building new abilities for the Mossad and leading daring and
significant operations.”
“The defense apparatus will continue to work closely with
the Mossad and will help with any necessary task in the important battle to
safeguard the security of Israel,” Gantz added.
Cohen has served as head of the Mossad since January 2016.
He has reportedly served as Netanyahu’s special envoy for various tasks, and is
said to be seen by Netanyahu as his preferred successor as prime minister.
Cohen played a prominent role in recent deals to normalize
ties with Arab countries. He traveled to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain,
as the US brokered deals between them and Israel.
He also reportedly joined Netanyahu on a 2020 visit to Saudi
Arabia, for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Saudi Arabia denies
the meeting occurred.
Cohen was linked to Israel’s killing last year of top
Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, although Israel has not commented
on the incident.
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