He is already bringing in a double-digit number of Knesset seats, before he has even bothered to establish a party or announce that he is entering the political arena. He is a welcome guest in every TV studio, always one-on-one, “no panel,” in the status of the most senior figures, always receiving long minutes to present his worldview — always critical but with a right-wing tone — and almost never asked about his skeletons in the closet. They want him back, they say he brings ratings.
So here’s what we know about Yossi Cohen’s skeletons, the former Mossad chief: He maintained a questionable relationship with tycoon James Packer. As part of that relationship, he received free tickets to a Mariah Carey concert, asked for and got a “gift” of $20,000 for his daughter’s wedding, and shared secrets, which later came back to trouble him when Packer collapsed.
He had an intimate relationship with a flight attendant. As part of that relationship, he revealed to her his Mossad cover story, showing her a website of tour guides in Arabic. He told her husband about the medical condition of one of Israel’s enemies and how the information was obtained. He exposed his own location and movements in real time to the betrayed husband, creating a situation where the entire Mossad leadership knew about it and wondered who else knew. The husband asked Cohen to appoint his assistant to a position she coveted in the Mossad. The assistant was indeed appointed. Cohen bragged about his connections with the owner of the company where the husband worked. Later, and against all business logic, the husband was fired.
Cohen asked Arnon Milchan to recommend him to the Netanyahus for the position of National Security Advisor, and specifically sought the support of Sara Netanyahu. It worked, apparently.
We could go on, but we live in an era where integrity and proper, statesmanlike conduct are seen as nitpicking. With Netanyahu–Smotrich–Ben Gvir being so cynical and reckless, any other behavior is perceived as minor by comparison. So let’s look at what we know about Cohen’s actual performance as National Security Advisor and Mossad chief.
He was a central supporter of the policy that pushed President Donald Trump to cancel the Iran nuclear deal, without preparing any alternative. Today, there is wall-to-wall consensus that this was one of the greatest strategic mistakes ever made. Since the cancellation, Iran is essentially at nuclear threshold status, practically a nuclear state, and Israel is almost powerless against this development.
Cohen was also a major proponent of the concept that Hamas was deterred, and that fueling it with Qatari cash would neutralize its malicious intentions. He was at the forefront of persuading the Qataris to deliver suitcases of cash to Gaza; he worked on it personally. How is it that Netanyahu is heavily criticized for this policy, yet Cohen lectures us on TV about what must be done now?
Cohen steered the ship during the critical years of the German submarine affair, particularly regarding the corvettes. He signed off on strange opinions on the matter. A criminal trial is underway in the district court. A state commission of inquiry is investigating other aspects of the rotten conduct in our security establishment. Cohen has never been under criminal suspicion, but does he bear no responsibility for it happening on his watch, under his command?
Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership today is disastrous. I too want to see him go, so much so that I’m willing to accept as head of state figures I wouldn’t have imagined five years ago. But still — out of all the worthy people living here, we can’t find someone better than Yossi Cohen?