In a first, Mossad appointment puts two women in top spots

The Mossad has named a woman to a top spot in a historic move that for the first time puts multiple women in its upper echelons.

Yediot Aharonot reported, and The Jerusalem Post has confirmed that two women will serve as division heads – the Mossad-equivalent of a major-general in the IDF (officers who could be in charge of the entire navy or air force) – and sit on the agency’s executive council.

One woman, S, was recently appointed a division head by Mossad Director Yossi Cohen, and Y, the other woman, was already serving as a division head.

Women have reached the rank in the past, but never two at the same time.

“I welcome the trend to appoint women to senior positions in the organization and it is also fitting to note that the two women are highly qualified and experienced, which will definitely contribute to the advancement of the organization’s goals,” former deputy Mossad chief Naftali Granot told the Post on Sunday just hours after the appointment was made public.

The move came as no surprise to former deputy Mossad chief Ram Ben Barak.

“This is the 21st century. Until now maybe there were fewer women in key positions because it was harder to balance work with being a mother, but now there are more husbands who are supportive” in sharing in childcare responsibilities so more women are choosing to stay in the spy organization long-term, he said.

“This is very good, there should be even more in the future,” he added.

Ben Barak said the appointees were “undoubtedly qualified” for their high-ranking positions and, asked when the country might see its first female Mossad chief, he said: “It will very likely happen in the future, though probably not in the next round.”

Aliza Magen, who achieved the rank of deputy chief during the term of former Mossad head Danny Yatom, has been the highest ranked woman in the agency thus far.

Relative to other organizations within the defense establishment, the Mossad has always been viewed as more inclusive of women, having them serve in every area, including dangerous operations.

Under Cohen, however, they have received even greater attention. In January, the Mossad put out its first-ever recruiting announcement focused more on female than male recruits.