A former head of Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, has made a startling claim: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly asked the agency to spy on two of the country’s highest-ranking officials. These allegations have cast a shadow over Netanyahu’s leadership, raising questions about trust, secrecy, and power struggles at the top of Israel’s government.
Yoram Cohen, who led the Shin Bet from 2011 to 2016, spoke in a recent interview about a time when Israel was secretly preparing for a potential military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. This was a high-stakes operation that required months of careful planning. Fearing leaks could jeopardize the mission, Netanyahu allegedly made an extraordinary request—to use the Shin Bet’s surveillance capabilities to monitor Benny Gantz, the head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at the time, and Tamir Pardo, then-director of the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency.
Cohen revealed that Netanyahu was deeply worried about information leaking to outsiders. “The prime minister asked me to use my tools, to surveil anyone involved in this operation,” Cohen said. The idea was to catch and deal with anyone who might reveal the plan. However, Cohen refused, stating that the Shin Bet was not allowed to take such “drastic measures” against the IDF or Mossad.
These revelations confirm earlier reporting from 2018 by an investigative Israeli TV program called Uvda, which first exposed Netanyahu’s request. At the time, Cohen reportedly told Netanyahu that spying on the country’s top military and intelligence officials was against Shin Bet’s rules.
A Climate of Suspicion
This isn’t the only controversy surrounding Netanyahu’s leadership. Cohen also accused the prime minister’s allies of trying to pin the blame for the deadly October 7, 2023, Hamas raid solely on the military. The attack, which shocked Israel, appeared to have caught the country completely off guard.
Netanyahu dismissed Cohen’s claims as politically motivated, accusing him of trying to stir up a “manufactured scandal.” In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister acted to protect state secrets and followed legal advice without violating anyone’s rights.
Benny Gantz, the former IDF chief targeted by the alleged request, was less forgiving. Now the leader of the National Unity Party, Gantz called Netanyahu’s leadership style “toxic and suspicious,” adding that even when he presented fully developed military plans, Netanyahu always acted as if others were hiding something from him.
A Divided Legacy
Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, having held office from 2009 to 2021 and returning to power in late 2022. While his supporters see him as a strong leader who has navigated Israel through turbulent times, his critics argue that his leadership is marked by mistrust and a concentration of power.
This latest scandal adds another layer of intrigue to Netanyahu’s already controversial tenure. Whether the allegations will have lasting consequences remains to be seen, but they have reignited debates about the balance of power and accountability in Israel’s leadership.
