Zohar Palti

About

Zohar Palti retired from government service in 2022 after serving for nearly four decades in some of Israel’s most sensitive national security positions. As the director of the Policy and Political-Military Bureau at Israel’s Ministry of Defense, he was responsible for shaping policy within the ministry, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and with Israeli defense and security companies; for managing Israel’s defense ties with strategic partners; and for leading defense relations with foreign nations worldwide.

Previously, Palti headed the Mossad Intelligence Directorate, holding a position equivalent to major general (two-star). He also served as the organization’s chief of counterterrorism. Before joining the Mossad, he spent twenty-five years in the IDF Intelligence Corps. During the Second Intifada (2000–2003), he commanded the Counterterrorism Department of the IDF Intelligence Directorate (IDI). He later served as deputy head of the Research and Analysis Division of the IDI.

In addition to his military and intelligence career, Palti has held several research positions, including senior research fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center (2016–17) and visiting military fellow at the Washington Institute (2004).

He holds a BA and an executive MA, both awarded with distinction, in Middle Eastern studies from Tel Aviv University. He is also a graduate of the US National Defense University’s Advanced Management Program.

In a rare honor for a foreign official, Palti was awarded the US Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service upon his retirement, in recognition of his significant contributions to strengthening US-Israel strategic defense relations.