Mossad chief says UAE, Bahrain peace deals the culmination of a ‘dream’

In a highly rare interview with Channel 12, Yossi Cohen, the head of the Mossad intelligence agency, describes the years-long process that led to the establishment of ties between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain.

He says the peace deals with Gulf nations “shatters the glass ceiling somewhat” in Israel’s relations with Arab states. “There were years of contacts that were handled very delicately,” he says.

“In the end, it looks like the magic happens in the blink of an eye, but in truth, I don’t act alone on this, many people in my organization worked on this for years,” says Cohen. He says it’s a “good opportunity” to thank the shadowy Mossad agents who worked behind the scenes to make it happen.

“It’s a dream, it’s really a dream,” he says of the deals. “It’s truly an exciting thing.”

At the White House, “I sat in the audience, looked around, and said, ‘Is this really happening?'”

Cohen predicts other countries will follow and forge ties with Jerusalem, including, possibly, Saudi Arabia.

The Mossad chief and interviewer Dana Weiss also joke about the botched Mossad intelligence operation in Dubai, during which Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was assassinated.

Cohen mentions events that transpired, “according to foreign reports,” that had to be ironed out with Abu Dhabi.

“I imagine there’s a certain hotel you didn’t go back to,” says Weiss.

“It could be,” replies Cohen, laughing.