Samuel Benezra

Samuel Benezra was born in 1973 in Jerusalem

Benezra was born in Jerusalem in 1973 to Naomi and David Ben Ezra, who came to Israel from Morocco. He grew up in Jerusalem and went to Himmelfarb High School.

He earned a bachelor's degree in applied physics from the Jerusalem College of Technology in 1994 and a master's degree in physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2006. He completed an MBA at the Open University of Israel in 2014 and a master's degree in political science at the University of Haifa in 2018. He is also a graduate of the Israel National Defense College.

He entered the IDF through the Atuda program and served in the Navy as an electro-optics engineering officer. In 2015 he became head of upper-tier systems in the Homa administration of the Defense Ministry's research directorate, with the rank of colonel. He worked on the Arrow 3 interceptor, which won the Israel Defense Prize in 2017.

From September 2020 to October 2024 he headed the Technology, Operations and Cyber Division of the Shin Bet. He was responsible for technology, cyber and artificial intelligence projects, including during the Israel-Hamas war.

The government approved his appointment as head of the National Security Council on 7 June 2026, succeeding acting adviser Gil Reich. He is married to Shifra, and they have 12 children.