VFI News Netanyahu Names Roman Gofman as Next Mossad Director

In this week’s edition of VFI News from Israel, Barry Segal reports on escalating tensions across the Middle East and Israel’s latest security operations. He covers the IDF strikes against Hamas in Gaza, the elimination of Hezbollah’s chief of staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai, and the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire. Barry explains the ongoing hostage standoff, tunnel confrontations, and Phase 2 negotiations, while analyzing Iran’s missile buildup, Hezbollah’s growing arsenal, and the challenges of forming an international stabilization force.

The report also highlights U.S. policy shifts, including President Trump’s designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, and Saudi Arabia’s $1 trillion investment deal with the United States. Barry addresses domestic pressures in Israel, from economic hardships to emigration trends, and showcases Vision for Israel’s work supporting civilians with bomb shelters and first responders. This in-depth analysis gives viewers a clear understanding of Israel’s security, regional dynamics, and the factors shaping the Middle East today.

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Yasser Abu Shabab, the head of a Gaza-based anti-Hamas militia, was fatally wounded during an internal clan gunfight and later died after being taken to an Israeli hospital, Israeli sources confirmed on Thursday, December 4, 2025. Early reports indicate the clash stemmed from intra-family or factional tensions rather than a direct confrontation with Hamas. The incident underscores continuing volatility among armed groups inside Gaza even amid broader ceasefire arrangements.

Abu Shabab’s group, which has been reported as opposing Hamas authority, had become a point of friction within the enclave’s complex network of militias and family dynasties. His transfer to an Israeli medical facility following the shooting highlighted both the severity of his injuries and the ad hoc channels that have emerged for urgent medical evacuation. Officials did not immediately provide further details about the gunfight or arrests connected to the killing.

The death will likely reverberate across local power structures in Gaza, where such militias can play outsized roles within neighborhoods and tribes. Observers note the potential for retaliatory disputes or temporary lulls in activity while leadership questions are sorted out. Authorities were still piecing together the chain of events late Thursday night.

(JPost/VFI News)

“Lord, we ask for Your protection over civilians in Gaza and along Israel’s border. Shield the innocent from spiraling clan violence, restrain those who plan bloodshed, and grant wisdom to authorities working to prevent further loss of life. We pray that Your peace will quiet rivalries and open the way for deliverance and safety for all caught in the crossfire.”

On Wednesday, December 3, Israel said it plans to reopen the Rafah Crossing in the coming days to permit Palestinians to exit the Gaza Strip to Egypt, while Cairo publicly denied coordinating with Jerusalem on a renewed mechanism. Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) described the move as aligned with the ceasefire’s terms and political directives, with departures to occur following Israeli security approval and under European Union supervision—a setup similar to a framework used earlier this year.

An Israeli official, speaking on background, indicated the crossing would facilitate departures for those cleared to leave, conditional on Egypt’s agreement to receive them, but not for returns into Gaza. The EU was said to be adjusting logistics before openings could proceed. Questions remained about whether and when Gazans who depart would be allowed to return, and how medical cases—estimated by the UN to number at least 16,500—would be prioritized.

Rafah has long been the principal exit for authorized Palestinian travel, though it was closed by Egypt after Israel seized the Gaza-side crossing in May 2024 and briefly reopened during a short-lived truce in early 2025. The crossing has been central to Gaza’s humanitarian corridors amid a broader blockade designed to prevent the smuggling of weapons to terror groups.

(TOI/VFI News)

“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” – Psalm 121:8

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday, December 4, nominated Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, his military secretary, to serve as the next director of the Mossad. The appointment is being reviewed by the Advisory Committee for Senior Appointments. Gofman, widely viewed as close to the premier, was selected over two candidates reportedly put forward by outgoing chief David Barnea, whose term ends in June 2026.

In announcing the pick, the Prime Minister’s Office praised Gofman’s “creativity” and “deep knowledge of the enemy,” citing his coordinating role across intelligence and security agencies during the ongoing war. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir welcomed the decision and emphasized inter-agency cooperation, as the IDF pledged support to ensure Gofman’s success in the role.

Gofman’s career began in the IDF Armored Corps, later including command of the Etzion Regional Brigade in Judea and Samaria during a wave of terror attacks in 2015, and leadership of the 7th Armored Brigade from 2017. He has served as Netanyahu’s military secretary since 2024, with responsibilities spanning travel, directives to the IDF, and wartime liaison with the Mossad.

(TOI/VFI News)

“Abba, we ask that You give wisdom and discernment to the new Mossad director. Guide his steps and bless his tenure so that Israel will have knowledge of any plot aimed against it, and lives will be saved. Bless all of those who are in positions of influence in Israel and advance its security.”

Former Israel Air Force commander Eitan Ben Eliyahu warned that Iran’s nuclear program, disrupted but not destroyed by Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, will continue to advance unless checked by either decisive military action or a credible diplomatic arrangement. In comments carried Thursday, December 4, he argued Tehran is learning from the recent strikes and preparing for future rounds, leaving Israel and its allies with stark choices.

Ben Eliyahu’s remarks framed the strategic dilemma: either push for negotiations capable of verifiable rollback of enrichment and weaponization, or prepare for a broader campaign to neutralize critical infrastructure. He suggested that deterrence alone is insufficient if the regime calculates that it can rebuild faster than Israel can degrade.

The debate over next steps continues as regional actors assess Iran’s timelines and red lines. Security officials increasingly weigh long-term costs, risks of escalation, and the sustainability of intermittent strikes versus a comprehensive diplomatic track.

(JPost/VFI News)

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” – Psalm 20:7

O Lord God of Israel is a worship song declaring the uniqueness, faithfulness, and covenant mercy of the God of Israel. This lyric video is designed to help you worship, sing along, and meditate on Scripture. Barry and Batya Segal perform music that blends Hebrew roots with heartfelt praise, lifting up the Lord with songs rooted in Scripture and the promises given to Israel. Watch, worship, and share this powerful declaration of God’s covenant love and His faithfulness to all who walk before Him with their whole hearts.

Israel formally handed over the Arrow 3 long-range missile defense system to the German Air Force on Wednesday, December 3, completing a sale worth €4 billion ($4.6 billion)—the biggest defense export in Israel’s history. The ceremony at Holzdorf Air Base south of Berlin marked the first time Arrow 3 has been deployed beyond Israel and the United States, and the first time another country will operate it independently.

The Defense Ministry described the transfer as a milestone for Israel’s strategic ties with Germany, as the system becomes part of Europe’s expanding air and missile defense architecture. Additional deployment sites in Germany are expected, with the initial emplacement located roughly 120 kilometers south of Berlin.

The deal, originally signed in September 2023, reflects both countries’ emphasis on layered missile defense amid evolving aerial threats, and it underscores Israel’s growing role as a supplier of high-end strategic systems to European partners.

(TOI/VFI News)

“Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” – Psalm 144:1

Israel is advancing plans to build a hospital on its side of the border to treat Jordanian patients as part of the “Jordan Gateway” industrial park—a joint zone enabling Israelis and Jordanians to cross for work and shared projects. Regional council head Itamar Matiash told The Times of Israel on Wednesday, December 3, that ideas under consideration include establishing a cancer-treatment center to serve patients from Jordan and beyond, while leveraging existing cross-border infrastructure at the Jordan River Crossing near Beit She’an.

The initiative, first proposed in the 1994 peace talks and approved in 2022, stalled in recent years amid legal disputes. However, a mediation process between the state, the contractor, and the council has cleared the way forward. Officials say the zone could help alleviate Jordan’s high unemployment and support Israeli high-tech and medical-tourism ventures, with low-tech factories envisioned across the border and advanced services on the Israeli side.

Backers also see the industrial park as a key node in the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, drawing interest from partners in the US and EU. The project is framed as practical peace-building through commerce, employment, and shared health services.

(TOI/VFI News)

Father, we thank You for openings that promote peace and mutual blessing between neighbors. Guide planners, physicians, and workers to serve with compassion; protect the project from sabotage and politics; and let this hospital become a place of healing that reflects Your mercy to Jordanians and Israelis alike.”

Prosecutors on Thursday, December 4, indicted an Ashkelon resident on suspicion of spying for Iran over several months, as authorities warn of intensified Iranian online recruitment efforts targeting Israelis with promises of money. Police said the suspect, 37-year-old Amir Malka, allegedly received roughly $4,225 in cryptocurrency for activities carried out at the direction of a foreign handler. He was arrested last month in an investigation led by Jerusalem District detectives and the Shin Bet.

The indictment—filed in the Beersheba District Court—comes amid a wider crackdown, with officials cautioning the public to ignore messages soliciting intelligence or operational assistance. The mayor of Bat Yam publicly urged residents this week to stop cooperating with Iranian operators, noting the scale of the outreach attempts.

Authorities say they continue to identify and disrupt espionage networks leveraging social media and encrypted apps to recruit Israelis for surveillance and other tasks. The case adds to a growing list of prosecutions tied to hostile foreign intelligence activity.

(TOI/VFI News)

“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” – Luke 8:17

Jewish leaders sounded the alarm after a new report found antisemitic incidents in Australia remained at “unprecedentedly high levels” over the past year. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) tallied 1,654 incidents from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025—roughly five times the pre–October 7 annual average—though lower than the prior year’s total immediately following the Hamas atrocity. The figures reinforce concerns that the spike reflects a global trend threatening Jewish communities far beyond Australia.

Community advocates warned that persistent harassment, vandalism, and intimidation are straining schools, synagogues, and civic life, calling for tighter enforcement and stronger political leadership to deter offenders. The report’s release prompted renewed discussion among international Jewish organizations about coordinated responses and security support.

While the data show some easing from last year’s peak, the sustained elevation is a sobering indicator of normalized hostility. Leaders urged governments and platforms to address incitement both online and offline, and to invest in education countering antisemitic conspiracies.

(TOI/VFI News)

“God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, protect Jewish communities across Australia and the world. Strengthen leaders, law enforcement, and educators to confront hatred with courage and truth. Comfort those who are fearful, and let Your light dispel the darkness of antisemitism wherever it arises.”

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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