In a press conference this evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his appointment to replace Danny Yatom as head of the Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, is Efraim Ha-Levi. Ha-Levy’s deputy director for the coming year will be General Amiram Levin, currently serving as the commanding officer of the Northern Command.
The plan is that, during the coming year, Levin will get acquainted with the Mossad, and will take over the directorship about one year from now.
Ha-Levy has served in many functions during a long career in the Mossad, including as deputy director.
Netanyahu stated during the press conference that Ha-Levy will begin his duties in a few weeks, as soon as all the requisite approval processes are complete. Levin’s tenure will begin at a time determined by Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yitzhak Mordechai, after appointment of a new Northern Commander.
Netanyahu thanked Yatom for his years of service and for his agreement to remain in the position long enough to introduce Ha-Levy to the current situation.
Netanyahu stated that he will recommend that Ha-Levy implement the findings of the Ciechanover committee which investigated the failed assassination of Hamas activist Khaled Meshal in Jordan. Netanyahu also pledged to help in rehabilitating the Mossad’s currently tarnished image and returning the veil of secrecy to the organization’s operations.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on March 4, 1998