# Former Mossad officer’s appointment highlights Tel Aviv University’s military ties

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/former-mossad-officers-appointment-highlights-tel-aviv-universitys-military-ties/
- Published: 2026-11-12T12:44:13+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T13:40:36+00:00
- Original publisher: Middle East Eye (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/former-mossad-officers-appointment-highlights-tel-aviv-universitys-defence-industry-ties
- Topics: Americas, Middle East, World

## Key points

- Former Mossad officer Hagai Itkin has joined Tel Aviv University’s leadership.
- The university is co-hosting a defence technology conference with Israel’s Defence Ministry.
- Twenty-two sponsors include major Israeli and US arms companies.

## Summary

Tel Aviv University’s appointment of former Mossad officer Hagai Itkin as vice-president for industry relations and entrepreneurship has renewed scrutiny of its links with Israel’s defence establishment. The university cited his experience in defence roles and high-tech industry connections; a report by Local Call said the appointment and an upcoming defence technology conference underline the relationship between academia, arms businesses and the military.

Itkin retired from Mossad in 2020 after nearly 20 years, including work in its technology department. In 2022, he said Israel had the capabilities to carry out targeted assassinations, while considering collateral damage and civilians. The December DefenseTech Week, co-organised with Israel’s Defence Ministry research directorate, is backed by 22 sponsors, including Rafael, Elbit, Israel Aerospace Industries, Lockheed Martin and Shield AI. Local Call and Israeli NGO New Profile have criticised universities’ cooperation with the military and arms industry; the university presents the conference as a forum for defence technology.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.