Shin Bet Chief Faces Disqualification Over Torture Claims

A last-minute petition was submitted Sunday to Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Solberg seeking to disqualify former Shin Bet director Yoram Cohen from running for Knesset on the Yeshar party list headed by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. Attorney Zehava Gur filed the request on behalf of members of the "Justice for Amiram Headquarters," a group advocating for Amiram Ben-Uliel, who was convicted in the 2015 Duma arson attack that killed three members of the Dawabsheh family.

The petitioners argue that Cohen's conduct during interrogations in that case disqualifies him from serving in Israel's parliament. They claim his actions contradict Israel's character as both Jewish and democratic, asserting this is not routine political disagreement but rather an unprecedented crossing of red lines by someone who headed a security agency and allegedly used his authority to place himself and the system above the law and democratic principles.

The petition further alleges that under Cohen's command, misleading reports were provided to the courts, including a formal statement in court proceedings that no physical harm had been inflicted on a suspect, a claim the state was later forced to admit was inaccurate, and that reconstruction and interrogation procedures were compromised. To support their argument that this represented institutionalized policy rather than an isolated failure, the petition also cites the case of Ashraf Salayma and Khalil Nimri from Eilat, who were arrested due to mistaken identity, underwent violent interrogation that produced false confessions, and were ultimately fully acquitted.

In concluding the petition, attorney Gur wrote that Cohen's actions constitute a severe breach of moral integrity: "The factual foundation points to extreme abuse of governmental power by Mr. Cohen, including misleading the Justice Ministry leadership with false pretenses of a 'ticking bomb,' presenting representations to the courts that did not faithfully reflect reality, and using improper work methods to obtain false confessions through torture. Someone who led such flawed institutional conduct lacks the integrity and moral fitness required of a member of Israel's legislature."