Meir Ben Shabbat appointed new National Security Advisor
Ben-Shabbat, who has held the position informally since August, spent 28 years working for the Shin Bet, including as the head of its southern division, which is responsible for the Gaza Strip.
By TOVAH LAZAROFFUpdated: NOVEMBER 13, 2017 01:25The Knesset building(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
The government on Sunday appointed Meir Ben Shabbat to the post of national security adviser and as the head of the National Security Council.“I think there is no one worthier than him for this position,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “I am sure that my colleagues in the cabinet and the government have also been impressed by the qualities he brings to this job, his sharpness of mind, his rich experience, the clarity of which he presents things.”“He does not round things up, he does not cover up, he says his opinion in the clearest possible way,” he said. “And I think this will be an opportunity for Meir, who has contributed greatly to Israel’s security, to make another significant contribution to its national security.”Ben Shabbat becomes the 10th person to hold the position since its establishment in 1999. The last NSC adviser, Yosef Meir Cohen, left the post in 2016 to head the Mossad.Since then, there have been two interim advisers; Yaakov Nagel and Eitan Ben-David.Ben Shabbat, who has held the position informally since August, spent 28 years working for the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), including as the head of its southern division, which is responsible for the Gaza Strip. He has also been in charge of its antiterrorism, anti-espionage and cyber divisions.