David Barnea

Gofman takes Mossad by storm, as spy org. ramps up plans to topple Islamic regime

New Mossad Director Roman Gofman, the first outsider to lead the spy agency since 2011, is exploring new methods to topple Iran's Islamic regime.

|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
Mossad Director Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman attends a ceremony marking the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle of the 7th Armored Brigade at the National Library in Jerusalem, on December 14, 2025.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds first working meeting with the Director of the Mossad Roman Gofman at the Mossad headquarters.

Netanyahu holds first working meeting with new Mossad chief Gofman

Netanyahu met Mossad chief Roman Gofman for the first time in an official working session since he took over the intelligence agency earlier this month.

|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
ONE OF the Mossad’s notable failures is the botched assassination attempt of then-Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in 1997. The organization’s incoming chief, Roman Gofman, will need to both examine and reform the Mossad’s inner workings.

Middle Israel: Roman Gofman's Mossad successes will be measured by Barnea's failures - opinion

After targeting Iranian nukes and missiles, the spy agency should now focus on dethroning the mullahs and confronting the "Anti-Zionist International."

|ByAMOTZ ASA-EL
President Isaac Herzog hosts the President's Decoration Award Ceremony at the president house in Jerusalem. October 22, 2025.

Herzog awards Mossad, IAI, IAF prize for capability-expanding classified system - exclusive

Mossad chiefs Tamir Pardo, Yossi Cohen, and recently retired chief David Barnea all had a hand in advancing the program, without which it might not have reached the finish line. 

|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB

Mossad Chief Barnea meets with US National Security Advisor Sullivan

There has been no order preventing Barnea or the Mossad from returning to Qatar to restart hostage negotiations.

DECEMBER 15, 2023ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
Mossad Director David Barnea speaks during a Conference of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), in Tel Aviv, on September 10, 2023.

Israel denies Netanyahu blocked Mossad from restarting hostage talks

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that they feel like the government is playing "Russian roulette" with the hostages.

DECEMBER 14, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen next to Mossad Director David Barnea at a pre-Passover toast, on April 4, 2023.

Mossad chief Barnea: Zero tolerance for games from Hamas

Recent developments are drawing greater attention to the agency's role in the region.

DECEMBER 3, 2023ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant seen with Mossad director David Barnea as part of the war cabinet on November 19, 2023

Mossad head receives list of released hostages in trip to Qatar

Every day, Barnea will receive a list with the names of the hostages who will be released the following day, according to N12.

NOVEMBER 22, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Mossad Director David Barnea speaks during a Conference of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), in Tel Aviv, on September 10, 2023.

Mossad, CIA chiefs meet Qatar PM in Doha on Gaza hostage deal - source

The outcome of the talks between the American and Israeli intelligence agency heads with the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani was unclear.

NOVEMBER 9, 2023ByREUTERS
David Barnea, the head of the Israeli Mossad attends an honour guard ceremony for Israel's incoming military chief Herzi Halevi at Israel's Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel January 16, 2023.

Plane used by Israeli officials spent hours in Egypt, suggesting hostage negotiation activity

The flight is suspected to have been part of ongoing efforts outside the public view to negotiate for the release of Israeli hostages currently held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

NOVEMBER 5, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
View from the control tower at Ben Gurion International Airport, on Novembe 15, 2018.

Past, present Mossad leadership makes secret trip to Qatar

The details, and any potential results, of Barnea and Cohen's trip to Qatar have not yet been revealed.

OCTOBER 31, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Head of Mossad David Barnea attends the state ceremony marking 50 years since the Yom Kippur War.

Mossad denies 'fake news' it secretly met with Israeli protest leader

"[This is] totally fake news," the Mossad statement explained. "The director of the Mossad did not meet with Shikma Bressler.

OCTOBER 3, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Physicist Shikma Bressler speaks during a protest, in Tel Aviv, August 5.

Dermer pushes IDF, Mossad chiefs to support US-Israel 'defense alliance'

Without the backing of key figures in the defense establishment, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer will struggle to advance a US-Israel defense alliance.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2023ByBARAK RAVID/WALLA
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer arrives to a government conference at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem on January 29, 2023

50 Influential Jews: David Barnea - No. 10

The director of Mossad is helping frame the trilateral Israel-Saudi Arabia-US deal. Here is how.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Mossad Director David Barnea.