Shlomi Binder

Shlomi Binder was born in 1975 in Haifa

Binder was born in Haifa in February 1975 and grew up there. He attended the Leo Beck High School and was a guide in the Scout Movement.

After a year of service in the Golan Heights, he enlisted in November 1993 and volunteered for Sayeret Matkal. He became a team commander, fought in Southern Lebanon, and was badly wounded by an explosive device in training in 1999. He later commanded a company in the Second Lebanon War, became deputy commander of the unit, and led the Egoz Unit from 2010 to 2012.

He commanded Sayeret Matkal from 2013 to 2016, including in Operation Protective Edge, and the Golani Brigade from 2016 to 2018. After a year of study in Washington, he commanded the Galilee Division from 2019 to 2022. In October 2022 he became head of the Operations Division, a post he held during the October 7 massacre and the Swords of Iron war.

In May 2024 he was chosen to head the Intelligence Directorate. Bereaved families petitioned against the appointment, but the petition was rejected, and he took office on August 21, 2024. He made warning the directorate's first mission, and in November 2025 Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir issued him a command note over his conduct on October 7.

He holds a bachelor's degree in agronomy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a master's in strategy from the National Defense University. He is married to Yael, has 3 children, and lives in Ma'ale Gamla.