Outgoing Mossad chief David Barnea said he believes the overthrow the Iranian regime is “a possible and achievable goal,” calling it an obligation for future generations.
Barnea spoke at the change of command ceremony Monday evening, which was attended by various Israeli leaders and politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
During his remarks, Barnea spoke of his work to thwart the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons and the outstanding threat posed by its leaders.
“I pledged that Iran will never have nuclear weapons,” Barnea stated. “Today, when the Iranian regime is weakened, challenged and more vulnerable, it is time to complete the task and to get revenge on the regime that has set its sights on destroying us.”
“We are in the midst of a historic and important campaign,” Barnea continued. “I believed, and I still believe, that changing the reality in Iran by changing the regime is a possible and achievable goal.”
Barnea said the toppling of the Islamic Republic’s regime remains “our duty to future generations.”
“It is a possible mission, and it is clear that this will require determination, patience and adherence to the goal,” Barnea emphasized. “This is our duty to future generations. This mission must remain at the top of our priorities.”
While Barnea publicly thanked Netanyahu for his “bold decisions” which enabled Israel to achieve surprising upsets against Iran, Netanyahu revealed that it was Barnea who pushed to carry out the pager attack against Hezbollah and the assassination of long-time leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah.
Both moves contributed to the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and the weakening of the Iranian axis.
Netanyahu thanked Barnea for his 30 years of service in the Mossad and the “notable successes and achievements” of the past couple of years.
“Great things were accomplished during your tenure,” Netanyahu told Barnea. “This farewell event seals your tenure at the helm of the Mossad. These have been five intense and dramatic years - some of the most fateful years in our history.”
“Thank you for 30 years of dedicated service in the Mossad, and special thanks for the past few years, which have yielded notable successes and achievements for the benefit of Israel's security,” Netanyahu continued.
Netanyahu spoke about the pager operation, which he called "a major turning point in the campaign," telling Barnea, "You stood firm against the skeptics when you showed me what was expected to happen.”
According to him, Barnea was one who persistently pushed for more operations, believing Israel had a strategic opportunity.
“The pagers, the elimination of Nasrallah, which you also stood firm on, the severe blow to Hezbollah's leadership, and the subsequent collapse of the Assad regime in Syria - are milestones in the process of crushing the Iranian axis of evil,” Netanyahu said. “The Mossad's miraculous capabilities combined with the IDF's tremendous capabilities brought us to the peak of our power.”
Netanyahu also spoke of the collapse of the regime, saying, "Anyone who plots evil against Israel will know that his plots will fail. The price he will pay will be extremely heavy. The price that Iran has already paid is very heavy. The foundations of this regime of terror in Iran have been cracked. It will not return to what it was, and I tell you - it will eventually fall.”
Herzog also spoke, praising the Mossad’s achievements under Barnea, noting that he built extensive intelligence partnerships and deepened its operational capabilities inside Iran.
The change-of-command ceremony was also attended by incoming Mossad Chief Roman Gofman, whose appointment Barnea had opposed.
Barnea turned to Gofman, wishing him success, and stating, “Your success is the success of the Mossad and the success of the State of Israel. The Mossad you receive is a powerful organization, sharp-minded, creative and determined to achieve every task. The women and men of the Mossad will stand side by side with you in the face of the many challenges, and I am sure that together, you will continue to turn imagination into reality, set bold goals and achieve them for the sake of Israel's security.”
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