Mossad Sources Call Removals Over Shelved Iran Plan a Political Blame Shift
Published
Mossad chief Roman Gofman has ended the tenures of the agency's intelligence directorate head and its Iran division head, both of whom helped draft an operational plan to topple the Iranian regime that was never carried out. Sources inside the Mossad said the removals were meant to shift responsibility for that failure onto the two officers, called the decision cowardly and described deep turmoil in the agency. Those sources linked the timing to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political interests before the October election. Security officials said the departures were agreed and part of a wider reorganization at the Mossad.
Sources
Difference in reporting
Sources factually disagree on whether the two officials were dismissed or left by agreement: Channel 12's Mako, Arutz Sheva and Kipa report that Gofman decided to remove them over the failed Iran plan, and Maariv cites Mossad sources describing a dismissal meant to shift blame; Israel Hayom cites security sources saying the departures were made by agreement as part of a reorganization at the agency. The remaining facts are uniform: Mossad chief Roman Gofman ended the tenures of the intelligence directorate head and the Iran division head, and both were among the officials who drafted an operational plan to topple the Iranian regime that was never carried out.
Commentary
Loading comments…