David Barnea is next Mossad chief after Yossi Cohen

On June 1, when Yossi Cohen completes his term as head of the Mossad, Israel’s external intelligence and espionage service, his deputy David Barnea, 56, steps into the post. A former elite Sayeret Matkal fighter, Barnea joined the Mossad in 1996. Among his various tasks were six years as head of the department handling Israeli agents. In announcing the appointment, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu praised Barnea’s distinguished record and said his primary task as new Mossad director was “to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”