Yossi Cohen, former head of the Mossad, has broken his silence with scathing criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the premier bears full responsibility for Israel’s failures before, during, and after the October 7 attacks.
In a rare interview from his Modiin home, Cohen, 64, described Netanyahu’s leadership as dangerously insular, claiming he “only talks to two ministers—Ron Dermer and Aryeh Deri,” while neglecting wider input. “Is this government impressive? No,” Cohen added.
Speaking to Y Net News, an Israeli-based media outlet, Cohen said he has not spoken to Netanyahu in a year and a half. “He is responsible for everything that happened on October 7,” Cohen said bluntly, setting the tone for his wider critique of Israel’s political and intelligence leadership.
The former spy chief, who spent more than four decades in Israel’s security establishment, expressed his frustrations with Likud’s fragmented structure: “No one will win the Likud alone—that’s my frustration. Everyone wants to run independently, but in the end, it just weakens the bloc. Why not unite it? Why not have one leader for the whole?”
When asked about his own political ambitions, Cohen was measured but firm: “Yes, I could unify Israel’s political blocs. But I will not be number two to Naftali Bennett or number three to Benny Gantz. I’m not interested in that. Right now, there are no elections, and any talk of entering politics is premature and misleading.”
Still, Cohen admitted he feels a growing sense of duty to step in. “The need to fix Israel burns inside me. My wife once said, ‘Promise me you won’t go into politics.’ Now she says, ‘Swear you will. It’s your fate.’”
He also addressed the ongoing state inquiry into the submarine affair, where he received a warning letter linked to alleged irregularities in defense tenders. “I don’t even know what I’m accused of yet—I just received the letter,” Cohen said. “I believe everything I did was for the sake of Israel.”
In a moment of mock disbelief, Cohen criticized the appointment of Gila Gamliel as intelligence minister: “Really? Why not me? I spent 42 years in the system. I was chief of staff, intelligence minister, your arm abroad.”
Cohen’s remarks reveal a man torn between his instinct for discretion, honed over years in covert operations, and his growing frustration with Israel’s current leadership. While he insists his entry into politics is not imminent, his words suggest that Israel’s security veteran sees himself as a potential leader in waiting.
