Ex-Mossad chief Cohen says public criticism of Qatar needs to stop

Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen says that Israel should make a one-time deal for all the remaining hostages in Gaza, and should stop public criticism of mediator Qatar.

In an interview with Army Radio, Cohen says that Israel “will have to pay anyway” a high price for any such deal, “so let’s pay it today from the start for everyone, and cut down the inhumane time the hostages are spending in Gaza.”

Cohen, a confidante of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has reportedly weighed a political future, criticizes those in Israel publicly speaking out against Qatar, saying that “this is the only country which can bring a deal at the moment. Publicly quarrelling with it is wrong, and we need to act wisely. Any criticism of Qatar at this point in time needs to be stopped.”

Netanyahu has repeatedly lobbed criticism at Qatar in recent weeks, as have several of his ministers.