Although the Prime Minister’s Office is still refraining from publicly discussing the identity of Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman’s successor as the Prime Minister’s military secretary, the security establishment already sees the race entering its decisive phase.
Gofman himself is still awaiting his official and final appointment as head of the Mossad, but behind the scenes, the candidate picture is beginning to take shape - along with the balance of power between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the preferred candidate from Zamir’s perspective is Brig.-Gen. Barak Hiram. Zamir wants to see Hiram enter the Prime Minister’s Office as the next military secretary - a move also viewed as part of an effort to reshape the relationship between the IDF and Netanyahu’s office following Gofman’s tenure.
Security sources note that after more than a year with Gofman serving as military secretary under Zamir’s tenure as chief of staff, Zamir would like someone “more comfortable ” in the role - an officer with whom he would have a closer, better-coordinated working interface.
Hiram himself only concluded his post as Gaza Division commander about two months ago and was slated to be appointed head of the IDF Operations Directorate. According to sources, Defense Minister Katz had even signed off on that appointment, but then the option arose to name Hiram as the Prime Minister’s military secretary, and the process was put on hold pending a final decision.
Zamir pushes Politis for Washington defense attaché
Alongside Hiram, two other names are high on the list: Brig.-Gen. Guy Markizano and R.-Adm. Tal Politis. Markizano currently serves as Katz’s military secretary. Politis, a former commander of Shayetet 13 and head of the Navy’s Operations Branch, is another highly regarded candidate within the military leadership.
However, sources say that from Zamir’s perspective, there is a clear division of roles: he wants Hiram as the Prime Minister’s military secretary, while he prefers Politis to be appointed Israel’s defense attaché in Washington - one of the most sensitive and significant roles in the security establishment.
Netanyahu, according to the same sources, does not rule out this option. The attaché role in Washington is considered especially important at this time. Sources close to Netanyahu say the military connection with the US administration is critical amid the formation of the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) - a future security assistance agreement between Israel and the United States, with preliminary talks already underway.
“The defense attaché in Washington is not just a ceremonial post,” a source familiar with the matter said. “This is the person handling one of the most sensitive channels between Israel and the Pentagon and the US administration.”
Netanyahu's decision waiting for Gofman's appointment
Meanwhile, the final decision is still awaiting Gofman’s official appointment as Mossad head. Only after that is Netanyahu expected to make a final decision on the identity of his next military secretary - a decision viewed by the security establishment as far more than just a personnel choice.
The Prime Minister’s military secretary is considered one of the most influential figures at the junction between the political echelon and the IDF. He participates in the most sensitive security discussions, has near-unlimited access to the Prime Minister’s Office, and sometimes serves as the central channel of influence between the Prime Minister and the Chief of Staff.