Mossad chief denies political ties with Netanyahu

Mossad intelligence chief Yossi Cohen denies he has political ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel anti-corruption organization has called on Cohen to clarify that he does not have any political ties to Netanyahu. The watchdog’s appeal came after Netanyahu told Channel 13 News that he is considering including Cohen in his next government. “In the government I will form, I will make sure to use the talents of Yossi Cohen,” the premier said on Saturday.

Cohen says he has no partisan connections and says he is solely focused on Israel’s security, regardless of the identity of the prime minister.

In the same interview to Channel 13 News, Netanyahu addressed the allegations that surfaced last week, claiming that Cohen promised to be loyal to the prime minister and his wife when he sought the position of national security adviser in 2013. “No such thing happened,” said Netanyahu. “Choosing Yossi Cohen was an entirely clean and correct decision.”

Cohen has been regarded as Netanyahu’s “shadow warrior” in many covert efforts, including the battle against Iran’s nuclear program, and is seen as the premier’s preferred successor.