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Yoram Cohen

Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen speaks in a Channel 12 interview, May 9, 2026. (Screenshot)
May 9, 2026, 11:48 pm
After joining Yashar, ex-head of Shin Bet says Smotrich a ‘legitimate’ partner, but not Ben Gvir
Yoram Cohen warns of ‘catastrophic’ outcome for Israel if current coalition with its ‘non-Zionist’ elements retains power after election, says he entered politics due to Netanyahu’s ‘failures’
By Sam Sokol
Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen (left) and Yashar party chief Gadi Eisenkot at a press conference in Tel Aviv, May 5, 2026. (Arik Marmor)
May 5, 2026, 5:43 pm
Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen joins Eisenkot’s Yashar party
Cohen, who served as head of the Shin Bet from 2011 to 2016 under Netanyahu, is a fierce critic of the prime minister; Eisenkot praises him as a ‘statesmanlike and ethical voice’
By Sam Sokol and Ariela Karmel
(Top L) Nadav Argaman at the Knesset, November 6, 2018 (Hadas Parush/Flash90) and (Top R) Ami Ayalon on March 27, 2023 (Tomer Neuberg/FLASH90) and (Bottom L) Yoram Cohen in Jerusalem, April 8, 2025 (Chaim Goldberg/FLASH90) and (Bottom R) Carmi Gillon in Jerusalem, December 31, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
February 13, 2026, 7:52 pm
Ex-Shin Bet chiefs, top brass decry ‘unprecedented attacks’ on agency by PM and allies
36 former officials accuse Netanyahu and his associates of attempting to absolve him of responsibility for Oct. 7 and convince his base there’s no need for state commission
By ToI Staff
Maj. Gen. David Zini, head of Training Command and General Staff Corps, during a ceremony on July 9, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)
September 18, 2025, 10:02 pm
Advisory panel said to delay decision on David Zini’s fitness to serve as Shin Bet chief
Senior Appointments Advisory Committee meets briefly after former head of security agency warns approval of nomination would cause country ‘irreversible damage’
By ToI Staff
David Zini at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on August 6, 2025 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
September 17, 2025, 12:47 pm
4 ex-Shin Bet heads file objections to appointment of Zini as security agency chief
Nadav Argaman, Ami Ayalon, Yoram Cohen, Carmi Gillon send separate letters to appointments panel day after 260 officials said to warn Zini may trample democracy
By ToI Staff
Screen capture from video of former Mossad director Tamir Pardo speaking in a video calling to end the Gaza war, released August 3, 2025. (YouTube: Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
August 4, 2025, 1:27 pm
‘On the precipice of defeat’: 19 former defense chiefs demand end to Gaza war
Over a dozen ex-officials who held key posts say fighting in Strip no longer serves any attainable military goal but only political interests; letter to Trump urges him to intervene
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and former prime minister Naftali Bennett (right) attend the funeral of Rabbi Haim Drukman, at Merkaz Shapira, near Kiryat Malachi, on December 26, 2022. (Gil Cohen-Magen/ AFP)
April 7, 2025, 2:33 pm
Ex-Shin Bet chief: Netanyahu asked me to ‘disqualify’ Bennett from security cabinet
Yoram Cohen says PM claimed ‘loyalty issue’ with Bennett, who himself charges PM tried removing him over 2014 aim to ‘finish’ Hamas; PMO decries ‘fake news’; Cohen also files High Court declaration
By ToI Staff
Israelis attend a rally against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, at Habima Square in Tel Aviv on March 18, 2025. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
March 19, 2025, 3:49 am
Over 40,000 in Tel Aviv protest Netanyahu over move to fire Shin Bet chief
Former Mossad chief says prime minister poses ‘clear and present danger to the nation’s security’ as crowd accuses leaders of abandoning nation for narrow political interests
By Noam Lehmann and ToI Staff
File - Then-Shin Bet commander Yoram Cohen, left, and then-IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz in December 2011. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
December 5, 2024, 6:05 pm
Ex-Shin Bet head says PM once asked him to wiretap top defense officials for fear of leaks
Then-IDF chief Gantz recalls Netanyahu’s ‘toxic and suspicious attitude’ in 2011 when reports said Israel was seriously considering strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities
By ToI Staff
Yoram Cohen, then-chief of the Shin Bet security agency, attends a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on November 18, 2014. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
August 1, 2019, 5:36 pm
Former Shin Bet head warns of ‘bloodshed’ that West Bank annexation would cause
As security cabinet advances plan its members say brings Israel closer to extending sovereignty beyond Green Line, Yoram Cohen says state should be working to ‘reduce occupation’
By Jacob Magid
Yoram Cohen, then-chief of the Shin Bet security agency, attends a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on November 18, 2014. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
January 4, 2019, 10:13 am
Former Shin Bet chief being courted for ministerial post
As several top ex-defense officials enter politics, Israeli TV says Yesh Atid and Labor are seeking to enlist Yoram Cohen
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, with outgoing Mossad chief Tamir Pardo during a farewell ceremony for Pardo in Tel Aviv on January 5, 2015. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
June 3, 2018, 1:09 pm
‘Mossad isn’t a crime syndicate,’ Netanyahu says in dig at ex-spy chief
Former agency head Tamir Pardo had accused PM of trying to wiretap his phone, pushing for a strike on Iran
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, seen with outgoing Mossad chief Tamir Pardo during a farewell ceremony in Tel Aviv on January 5, 2015. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
June 1, 2018, 9:49 pm
PM’s phone tapping request said part of effort to stop leaks in secret project
After allegations Netanyahu requested surveillance of head of Mossad, IDF, report says he did not specifically target the two, but wanted greater oversight of all involved
By ToI Staff
File - Then-Shin Bet commander Yoram Cohen, left, and then-IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz in December 2011. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
June 1, 2018, 6:50 pm
Ex-Shin Bet head denies PM asked him to ‘specifically’ tap IDF and Mossad chiefs
Netanyahu also rejects report, slams ‘no limit to lies’ after ‘Uvda’ TV program claims he tried but failed to eavesdrop on top security brass
By ToI Staff
File - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with then-IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz, defense minister Moshe Ya'alon, Shin Bet head Yoram Cohen, Mossad director Tamir Pardo, and NSC head Yossi Cohen at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, to discuss the disappearance of three Jewish teenagers near Hebron, in the West Bank, June 14, 2014. (Kobi Gideon/GPO/Flash90)
June 1, 2018, 5:50 pm
PM: I listen to Arik Einstein, Beatles, not phone calls of IDF and Mossad heads
Netanyahu slams the media for ‘lies’ after a report alleged he asked the Shin Bet security agency in 2011 to tap the phones of top spy and army chief
By Judah Ari Gross and Alexander Fulbright
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