Bennett names deputy Shin Bet head as new security service chief

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Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced Wednesday that R., the deputy head of the Shin Bet Security Service, will be the agency’s next director.

The appointment of R., who is scheduled to begin his new position next month, still awaits approval by the government and the committee that oversees all senior appointments.

Both of the candidates who competed to replace present director Nadav Argaman, R., and Y., were Argaman’s deputies. Y. occupied the role before R. stepped into his place.

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Security sources say that Bennett was impressed by both candidates and continued to deliberate between them until the last moment. R. enjoys a good working relationship with senior military officers, a fact that may have contributed to Bennett’s decision on the appointment.

R. has held a number of senior positions in the Shin Bet’s operations branch, where Argaman also served. Argaman appointed R. as his deputy two years ago.

R., 55, who is married and is a father of three, served as a combat soldier in one of the military’s elite units. After he was discharged from the army, he joined the Shin Bet.

R. completed his B.A. course in political science and philosophy from the Tel Aviv University and finished his M.A. course in public policy from Harvard.

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Bennett has held an extensive round of consultations over the past two months with senior defense officials and former senior officials in the Shin Bet, before making his decision.

Argaman welcomed R.’s appointment and said that he is highly experienced and has proven managerial and commanding skills. Argaman further noted that R. has excelled in each and every role he had taken in the organization.

Argaman served as director for five and a half years. His term was originally scheduled to end in May, but was extended by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until a new government was formed.