Outgoing Mossad Chief to Netanyahu: “You Made Historic Decisions. I Saw and Appreciated Your Bold Decisions”

Barnea’s Farewell

Outgoing Mossad chief David Barnea thanked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his farewell ceremony, praising what he called the prime minister’s courageous and historic decisions during the war.

Barnea made the comments as he concluded his five-year term leading Israel’s foreign intelligence agency. His farewell ceremony took place Monday night at Mossad headquarters, ahead of the formal handover to incoming Mossad chief Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, thank you for the courageous decisions you made throughout the war, which allowed the Mossad to bring its full capabilities to bear and contributed significantly to strengthening the power of the State of Israel,” Barnea said.

He then added a more personal note:

“I will always be grateful to you for historic decisions. I saw and appreciated your deliberations. I saw and appreciated your bold decisions. Thank you very much.”

Five Years of Mossad

Barnea led the Mossad through one of the most intense periods in Israel’s modern security history.

He became Mossad director in 2021 and held the position through the October 7 war, the campaign against Hamas, the northern front with Hezbollah, hostage negotiations, and Israel’s widening confrontation with Iran and its proxies.

During his tenure, the Mossad remained central to Israel’s covert campaign against Iran’s nuclear program, regional terror networks, and enemy infrastructure abroad. Barnea also played a major role in hostage-related efforts, with Israeli reports crediting him for involvement in two of the hostage return deals with Hamas and Qatar.

At the farewell event, Barnea also addressed the Iranian threat, saying Israel and the Mossad must remain focused on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and pushing back against the Islamic regime in Tehran.

Changing of the Guard

Barnea will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, Netanyahu’s military secretary and a former senior IDF commander.

Gofman’s appointment faced legal challenges, but the High Court approved it shortly before the transition. He is set to take over the Mossad as Israel continues to face major threats from Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other regional actors.

Despite previously opposing Gofman’s appointment, Barnea called on Mossad personnel to support the incoming director and help ensure a smooth transition.

According to Israeli reports, Barnea told Mossad operatives that Gofman’s success would be the success of the Mossad and the State of Israel.

A Direct Message to Netanyahu

Barnea’s message to Netanyahu stood out because it came at the end of a tense and consequential term.

His words framed Netanyahu’s wartime decisions as central to the Mossad’s ability to act with force and reach. For Barnea, those decisions allowed the agency to bring its full capabilities into the campaign and strengthen Israel’s strategic position.

As Israel enters a new chapter under Gofman, Barnea’s farewell placed the Mossad’s recent operations inside a wider story: intelligence, leadership, and the bold decisions that shaped the war.