Prime Minister Sharon announced today that his security advisor Maj.-Gen. (res.) Meir Dagan will be the new Director of the Mossad (foreign intelligence agency). Dagan will replace Ephraim HaLevy, who will head the National Security Council. Dagan, 55, served in the IDF for 32 years, was wounded in action twice, and twice received citations for bravery. He served as head of former Prime Minister Netanyahu's Anti-terrorism Task Force. He was outspokenly against withdrawing from both the Golan Heights and southern Lebanon in the past few years. Labor MK Ophir Pines criticized the appointment of a "clearly-identified Likudnik" as head of the Mossad.