Israel News for 12-4-2025
News Update
Prime Minister Netanyahu appointed Roman Gofman to replace David Barnea as head of the Mossad, starting in June of 2026. Born in Belarus in the former USSR, Gofman is a Major General in the IDF. He served as Netanyahu’s military secretary last year. According to commentator Amit Segal, “In the past 13 months, the prime minister has replaced the heads of the IDF and Shin Bet, as well as his defense minister. And now, with the appointment of Roman Gofman to lead the Mossad, Netanyahu has finally finished remaking the top brass of Israel’s security establishment in his image.” Meanwhile, the IDFstruck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon today.
The body of Thai hostage Sudthisak Rinthalak was returned to Israel overnight, leaving the body of just one Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, still in Gaza.
Yesterday, Israeli and Lebanese officials held direct talks in Lebanon for the first time in decades. Following the meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that “the meeting was held in a positive atmosphere, and it was agreed that ideas would be formulated to advance possible economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon. Israel made clear that dismantling Hezbollah’s military capabilities is required regardless of progress on economic cooperation. The sides agreed to continue the dialogue.” For more, click here.
Yasser Abu Shabab, the militia leader who oversaw eastern Rafah and had been cooperating with Israel in recent months, was killed today. Abu Shabab was reportedly killed in an internal dispute between rival families, and not by Hamas.
