Categories
Netanyahu appoints Guy Markizeno as military secretary after Mossad reshuffle
Netanyahu appoints Guy Markizeno as military secretary after Mossad reshuffle
JERUSALEM POST STAFFUpdated Thu, June 4, 2026 at 7:06 PM UTC2 min readAdd Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.- Brig.-Gen. Guy Markizeno has been promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to become his military secretary, following the appointment of former military secretary Roman Gofman as head of the Mossad.
- Markizeno's promotion to major-general comes after the High Court of Justice cleared Gofman's appointment and the IDF submitted multiple candidates for the role, with Markizeno not being the top choice of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir.
- The appointment of Markizeno as IDF military secretary may lead to R.-Adm. Tal Politis being appointed to the US defense attache post in Washington, as Defense Minister Israel Katz had wanted Markizeno to take that role.
Markizeno currently serves as Defense Minister Israel Katz's military secretary.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday promoted Brig.-Gen. Guy Markizeno, Israel Katz's secretary, to become his military secretary.
With the appointment, which follows former military secretary Roman Gofman becoming head of the Mossad, Markizeno is promoted to the rank of major-general.
Gofman's appointment had been cleared by the High Court of Justice on Monday, and the IDF had submitted multiple candidates to Netanyahu to take up the post, but the prime minister had stalled deciding for a few days, IDF sources told The Jerusalem Post.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe military secretary is often the first official to receive reports on behalf of the prime minister and, along with the national security council chief, stays close to him most of the time, providing immediate advice in crisis situations.
Markizeno was not the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir's top choice for the role, but his moving to that post could resolve another issue for Zamir.
Netanyahu appoints Guy Markizeno as IDF military secretary
Since December 2025, Zamir has wanted R.-Adm. Tal Politis is to take up the US defense attache post, which has been filled by a temporary officer since then.
Politis has served as deputy head of the navy and the commander of the IDF elite Navy SEAL unit, Shayetet 13.
AdvertisementAdvertisementKatz did not publicize anything specific he had against Politis, but had wanted his military secretary, Markizeno, to take the post.
Now that Markizeno has moved on, possibly Katz withdrew his veto of Politis, though IDF sources were unsure about the issue at press time.
Politis appears likely to be appointed to the role in Washington and will be promoted to vice-admiral.
Markizeno had also served as secretary to Yoav Gallant when he was the defense minister.
Prior to that, he served as a commander in the Artillery Corps, including as head of the 209th and 215th artillery brigades.
However, Markizeno got caught up in disputes between Katz and Zamir, which left him with less support to fulfill other roles.