Roman Gofman, a former military secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with no prior Mossad experience, officially became head of Israel’s spy agency on Tuesday after the High Court of Justice rejected challenges to his appointment. His rise is a rare case of an outsider being elevated to the top of Israel’s intelligence establishment and comes at a moment of heightened scrutiny over its leadership.

Netanyahu’s nomination of Gofman, an Israeli military commander, drew opposition from several civil society organizations and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara over allegations of unethical conduct linked to a psychological warfare operation by the unit Gofman headed at the time. The appointment also sparked criticism within the intelligence establishment.

Despite the controversy, the High Court found insufficient grounds to disqualify him, clearing the way for Gofman, 50, to assume leadership of the agency.

Outgoing Mossad Director David Barnea reportedly argued that the agency should be led by a veteran intelligence officer rather than an outsider.