Ex-Shin Bet chief suggests Netanyahu descended from Shabtai Tzvi

Former Shin Bet director Yoram Cohen, now a candidate for Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, launched a sharp attack Wednesday morning on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, going so far as to compare him to the false messiah Shabtai Tzvi. In an interview on Radio 103FM with Gideon Uko and Amichai Atali, Cohen addressed Netanyahu's recent Channel 14 remarks, the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran, and the prime minister's relationship with his adviser Yonatan Urich.

Cohen's harshest comment came when asked about Netanyahu's conduct. The former Shin Bet chief claimed that Netanyahu tries in every election cycle to present a connection to different population groups, and suggested he examine a link to a controversial figure from Jewish history.

"Every election round, the prime minister tries to find some Jewish gene from somewhere on the globe, sometimes a Sephardi gene, sometimes a Russian gene, he even sought flattery from the Arab world. He would do very well to examine the option that his gene is actually in Turkey, in Izmir. There's someone from Jewish history there who may have influence in the hereditary chain to the prime minister."

When asked explicitly whether he was referring to the false messiah Shabtai Tzvi, Cohen answered in the affirmative.

Later in the interview, Cohen addressed Netanyahu's statements regarding a possible visit by the head of Egyptian intelligence to Israel in autumn 2023, and expressed doubt that the prime minister would not have been briefed on such a visit, if it indeed took place.

"If he came here and delivered a message, certainly a senior figure, perhaps the head of a certain organization, met with him," he said. "Usually, when intelligence chiefs from important and prominent countries arrive, the prime minister receives a report on the very fact of the arrival and on the content of the meeting, especially when it concerns Israel's security ... The fact that if indeed the head of Egyptian intelligence came here is a dramatic event, and I have no doubt he came to deliver a certain important message. It would be very unusual if such information were not passed to the prime minister."

Cohen was then asked about reports that Netanyahu is considering a strike on Iran before the elections. He expressed distrust in the prime minister's judgment, but clarified that in the case of a significant operational opportunity, there is room to hold a discussion on the matter.

Yoram Cohen (Photo: Yashar party spokesperson)

"I think it's very difficult to rely on the prime minister; we see considerations from the group surrounding him, some of them very strange, and even in retrospect they have no reasonable explanations," he claimed.

"Regarding Iran specifically, if it turns out there is a golden opportunity precisely in the next two weeks to do something, some window of opportunity, it could be that this needs to come to discussion; if these things don't exist, I hope the chief of staff won't let it happen."

Asked whether he trusts Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, he replied: "I trust him very much." By contrast, regarding Shin Bet chief David Zini, he refrained from giving a sweeping assessment.

"Regarding Zini, I'm careful in my words. We mustn't judge him, not on his opinions and not on his family, but only according to his actions. If it turns out that all the decisions are professional, we need to give him backing."

Another issue that drew Cohen's criticism was the continued proximity of Yonatan Urich to the prime minister. Cohen raised serious allegations regarding Urich's ties with Qatar, and claimed there is no justification for his continued work in Netanyahu's close circle.

"There's a person working in proximity to the prime minister and knows the most sensitive things even if he doesn't have clearance. This man receives funding from a hostile country to us, not to say enemy, and he's in direct contact with them and conducts influence operations against the public in Israel, this is a terrible thing," Cohen claimed.

According to him, "They should have sent the man home, maybe given him another role in Likud. Instead, the prime minister, together with his lawyer, protects him and brings him back, 'the prodigal son.'"