Ex-Shin Bet chief: Netanyahu asked me to spy on ministers, officers

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked former Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Yoram Cohen to eavesdrop on ministers and senior officers who were involved in a major security event, Cohen revealed on Thursday.

The allegations stem from a 2018 incident and are reportedly connected to MK Benny Gantz, who was serving as the IDF chief of staff at the time.

Cohen emphasized that he saw the prime minister’s request to spy on Israeli officials not as eavesdropping but rather as “using tools against anyone who is privy to the secret, including wiretapping.”

Cohen emphasized that conspiracies arise when “a lack of public awareness” is combined with “consciousness engineering.” He connected this to October 7, 2023, asserting that “people close to Netanyahu” are actively shaping a narrative suggesting that the “failure on October 7th was entirely the military’s fault.”

These two statements, that the prime minister had requested the Shin Bet to eavesdrop on high-ranking Israeli security officials and that people close to Netanyahu were allegedly working on “engineering” Israeli consciousness, follow further earlier remarks made by the former Shin Bet chief the day before.

Gantz's and Netanyahu's reactions

National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz responded to the comments by Cohen, saying, "For over 40 years, I have served—and continue to serve—Israel's security in the most sensitive roles. The good of the state and its security have always been my top priority. Those who know me understand that, unlike Netanyahu, I never leak state secrets, even when my position is not accepted. There were such cases during the current conflict while I was a member of the war cabinet."

Gantz further stated, "The fact that Netanyahu asked the Shin Bet Chief to break the law and use tools intended for our enemies against the heads of security branches does not surprise me—neither then nor now. It says more about him and the criminal culture that surrounds him."

The prime minister's office later responded to Cohen's comments. "Yoram Cohen, who is pretending to be naive and is deeply entrenched in a political campaign, is trying to fabricate yet another 'manufactured scandal.' The Prime Minister acted to protect a vital state secret, followed legal recommendations, acted according to the law, and did not infringe on anyone's rights."

"Contrary to Cohen’s statements, the real threat to democracy in Israel does not come from elected officials but from elements within the law enforcement authorities who refuse to accept the will of the voters and are attempting to carry out a governmental coup through unrestrained political investigations that are unacceptable in any democracy," the statement added.

Cohen criticizes ultra-Orthodox draft policy

During a Zionist Right conference at the Begin Center in Jerusalem on Wednesday, aimed at halting the ultra-Orthodox draft law, Cohen noted, “If there were a possibility for the Zionist Israeli government to negotiate with the ultra-Orthodox, for them to serve the State of Israel out of their own free will, that would be preferable.”

However, he said that he doesn’t think the ultra-Orthodox community would wish to serve in the army. He then emphasized that in such a case, Israel could possibly “adopt the approach of establishing a government that can decide on this matter and impose sanctions, which will also include employment.”

Cohen also stressed that, in his opinion, “Arabs should also serve” in the army. He also expressed his steadfast stance concerning the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying, “There must be a clear and definite ‘no’ to the establishment of a Palestinian state. This possibility is unrealistic, unachievable, and must not be allowed. This was also true before October 7.”

Regarding the possibility of joining politics, he responded, “I haven’t decided on this yet, but I’m not ruling out entering politics.”

“Yoram Cohen, who is deep in a political campaign, is trying to create another fabricated ‘scandal,’” the PMO stated.

The prime minister sought to protect vital state secrets, followed the legal recommendations, acted according to the law, and did not infringe upon anyone’s rights.”

“Contrary to Cohen’s statements, the real threat to democracy in Israel is not from elected officials but from law enforcement authorities who refuse to accept the will of the voters and are trying to carry out a political coup through unrestrained political investigations, which are unacceptable in any democracy.”