Israel’s national intelligence agency has for the first time in its history appointed a woman to its most senior intelligence position — and, in a rarity, Mossad issued a public statement about it. 

Via a press release from the Israeli prime minister’s office, the agency announced that “A” “has assumed the post of Director of the Intelligence Authority (parallel to the Head of the IDF Intelligence Branch), the first woman in the history of the Mossad to hold the office.” In that capacity, she will be “responsible for formulating the national strategic intelligence picture on a variety of issues, including the Iranian nuclear program, global terrorism, and normalization with the Arab world.”

The announcement, issued on Thursday, goes on to say that “it is without precedent that intelligence in the Mossad is currently managed by two women, ‘A’ and her deputy ‘H’, and is considered as one of the anchors and growth engines of the organization.” The agency said that the new female appointee joins “K,” also a woman, who serves Mossad as head of the Iran desk, which it considers “the chief concern of the organization.” 

Out of the customary security concerns, the two women are identified only by their first initials in the Hebrew alphabet. “A” will also be responsible for intelligence “regarding all Mossad operations and manages hundreds of employees in the collection, research and analysis of intelligence,” the announcement continued.

Mossad’s director, David Barnea, said in the statement: “It is important for the Mossad, as a security organization, that stands at the forefront of operations on behalf of national security, to inform women of the unlimited possibilities for them in the organization, and to be an example for other security organizations regarding the integration of women into key roles.”

The Times of Israel reported that “A” spoke at an award ceremony two months ago and said then, “I will utilize this distinguished platform to call on women to realize their potential and influence in the security establishment, particularly the combat or technological units, in order to continue making their mark.”

If it is rare for Israeli women to rise to the top echelons of the country’s intelligence establishment, women of course have had an integral role in the history of the state of Israel. Politician and teacher Golda Meir served as the country’s fourth prime minister, between 1969 and 1974, and Israeli women are a formidable presence across all walks of contemporary Israeli society, from the vaunted high-tech sector to Tel Aviv’s dynamic culinary scene and much more. 

Naftali Bennett, who until recently served as Israel’s prime minister, said the Mossad appointments were “a great decision,” as the Times of Israel also reported, adding that “just this past week I met them for an important work meeting, and as per usual I felt we were in good hands.” 

Since stepping down from his position, Mr. Bennett has retained the Iranian portfolio.