Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
The new Mossad director, Roman Gofman, visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Friday, jotting down a brief note in the Western Wall Heritage Foundation guestbook. The writing in Hebrew read, “The Glory of Israel does not Deceive,” which is a line from Samuel 15:29.
Gofman was selected closely by the Prime Minister and his biblical signing as an ideological alignment with Netanyahu’s hardline stance, signaling a major, aggressive reshuffling of the agency to focus on deep covert offensives against foreign threats.
He signed the guestbook with the Hebrew phrase Netzach Yisrael Lo Yeshaker. Depending on the translation, it is also interpreted as "The Eternity of Israel does not lie,” or “The Strength of Israel will not lie”.
In Jewish tradition, "Netzach Yisrael" historically refers to God and the eternal endurance of the Jewish people. By invoking this specific phrase, Gofman is projecting an image of absolute certainty, suggesting that despite severe crises, Israel's survival and ultimate victory are unshakeable.
"Deception" is seen as a message to enemies that Israel’s strategic power and promises are absolute. Gofman's declaration promises an uncompromising commitment to protecting the Jewish nation. The Mossad is composed of several departments and its structure acts as a global shield for the Jewish state and diaspora Jews.
The agency works by gathering intelligence on antisemitic threats of any kind, especially those that can be integrated into the broad notion of terrorism which has always haunted the Jews for two millennia. Tzomet is responsible for foreign espionage. Keshet specializes in covert electronic surveillance, wiretapping, and physical break-ins, Metsada executes high-risk operations, including sabotage, paramilitary actions, and targeted missions, Lap handles psychological operations, strategic deception, and propaganda to provide security tools, personnel, and guidance to local Jewish communities, and Kidon is the unit responsible for carrying out targeted assassinations and it put an end to centuries of aggression against Jews without those responsible being found and punished.
Because of the sensitive nature of international targeted killings, operations require direct authorization from the Prime Minister of Israel and Netanyahu has demonstrated great caution in these extreme situations. The ancient word Kidon translates to "bayonet" or "spear" in Hebrew.
