New Mossad Head Yossi Cohen

ꕤ Article SOURCE http://www.timesofisrael.com/our-new-spymaster-and-the-demise-of-israeli-politics/ Analysis / Yossi Cohen is now effectively Israel's top diplomat Our new spymaster and the demise of Israeli politics There is an irony at the heart of the Netanyahu premiership — a dramatic consolidation of political power driven by a collapse in Israelis’ faith in such power By Haviv Rettig Gur January 6, 2016, 7:06 am Gur Haviv Rettig Gur is The Times of Israel's senior analyst. On December 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an unprecedented and slightly embarrassing press conference to announce that National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen would be appointed the next chief of Israel’s famed Mossad espionage agency. CONTINUED http://www.timesofisrael.com/our-new-spymaster-and-the-demise-of-israeli-politics/ In Summary Netanyahu was late Netanyahu did live camera appearance rare - unless there is political benefit Netanyahu administration -- becoming most centralised & powerful Israel admin -- since David Ben Gurion Mossad -- long-time underground foreign service -- doing diplomatic work -- Mossad in Egypt has more influence -- than official Israel diplomacy in Egypt -- Israel diplo relations focus on national security -- Mossad infiltrates high level foreign govt communications -- Mossad, under Netanyahu, is replacing Foreign Ministry -- re planning & diplomatic agency re:     - Iran nukes     - high level Washington relationships     - high level major Euro capitals relationships     - coordination w/ Arab govts -- Mossad can keep a secret, whereas Israeli normal diplo are leaky -- but key is:  Mossad operates deep w/in scope of PM Office & under PM authority -- Israel coalition govt system -- foreign minister direct political competitor of PM -- thus political interest to clash w/ PM -- Mossad = foreign policy w/out coalition politics interference Netanyahu - address - sees Mossad: 1. operational body; 2. intel agency; 3. forefront of path to diplomatic relations (esp where no formal ties) eg.   UN climate conference Paris, meeting with Arab & Muslim leaders Bibi spin re standing in the "face of radical Islamic forces" & "determined fight against terror" Yossi Cohen -- who led talks w/ Turkish officials in Zurich to restore relations -- effectively Israel's top diplomat, according to Bibi announcement -- PM's right-hand man, charged with handling most strategically critical matters re Israel foreign policy. Bibi address was a muscle-flexing exercise -- showcasing Bibi's own power -- Bibi holds posts of:     - foreign minister     - economy minister     - communications minister     - regional cooperation minister Bibi may fear cabinet-seat imbalance in re coalition -- hence not handing over above portfolios Communications Ministry -- Bibi has kept regulatory powers (communications) -- but appointed ally to the ministry Economy Ministry -- Shas Party -- leader Aryeh Deri 'fled' Nov. -- to avoid using powers to help pass controversial natural gas framework -- advocated by Bibi -- Aryeh Deri traded for something less controversial Foreign Ministry -- former UN ambassador Dore Gold -- Bibi loyalist -- appointed director general -- Bibi (via Dore Gold) -- to keep official diplomatic corps under the thumb -- & out of way of Bibi and Yossi Cohen (Mossad) Yossi Cohen -- originally Mossad deputy head Mossad -- 2013, transfer to Bibi national security adviser -- aim for top Mossad job -- Yossi Cohen = ex-ops man -- becomes Bibi go-between re:  Arab, Euro & US leaders -- speaks English, French & Arabic - advantage -- inexperienced re diplomacy -- disadvantage -- proved himself on the job & thus got top job Mossad Implication: -- even Mossad head believes must be buddies with Bibi -- to meaningfully influence Israel policy Ofer Shelah (fmr journalist) Yesh Atid Member Knesset -- concerned re position Cohen will leave -- concern re lack of independence from Bibi re thought & speech -- independence compromised when closeness to PM is factor in job prospects -- fear adviser will only tell PM what PM wants to hear -- Cohen's successor (presumably national security) -- should be someone experienced in defence w/ no ambition declarations Ofer Saleh Yesh Atid Party -- concern that Israel national security & foreign policy organs -- shifting towards American or French models National Security Adviser -- post was for retired ex-defence heads -- described as 'sidelined post' -- but has become concern for Bibi opponents Netanyahu -- controls mechanisms of policy-making -- wields huge power Political Conditions -- 25 years -- left-right divide -- political experimentation -- issue:  Palestinians Grand Peace Experiments of Elected Israel Leaders Yitzhak Shamir -- acquiescence to US-led multilateral peace talks Yitzhak Rabin -- initiative:   Oslo process (1992) Netanyahu -- Wye agreement -- last signed b/w Israel & Palestine Ehud Barak -- deal w/ Palestinians (Camp David 2000) Ariel Sharon -- unilateral withdrawal from Gaza Ehud Olmert --  campaign promise of withdrawal from West Bank (2006) Israel - Palestinian Explicit Separation Election Campaign Promises won elections: 1992 1999 2006 2000 - Second Intifada 2006 - Second Lebanon War Israelis lose faith re: 1) Palestine holding up peace 2) in leaders urging peace gambles = Israelis unwilling to elect anyone who does not share distrust -- and belief no way out of conflict w/ Palestinians Polls - same ambiguous results for decade: -- majority favour separation from Palestinians -- yet also:  not convinced it can be implemented “The only party for which a majority of the voters think a peace agreement would bring an end to the terror is Meretz (81%).” "... Meretz is also the only Jewish-majority party in the Knesset that still openly advocates a near-term Israeli withdrawal." ** I'm confused:  Israel voters want to withdraw from Palestinian territories? MK Isaac Herzog -- Bibi chief political rival (but not on policy) -- speaker had to shut down microphone & call recess -- when Isaac Herzog speaking -- Knesset almost did a Ukraine: shouting, clapping, pounding desks -- something to do with 'incitement' -- Isaac Herzog challenged Bibi re PA Pres. Mahmoud Abbas -- Herzog said that like Abbas, Bibi does not condemn incitement -- against the president of the State of Israel -- that doesn't make sense to me ... -- unless he's referring to incitement against Abbas? -- lol ... Bibi demands Herzog condemn -- Breaking the Silence -- (ex IDF left-wing protest org IDF occupation) -- Herzog acknowledges they cross the line at times -- but insists Bibi must let ex frontline soldiers express themselves -- Herzog says he's disgusted, but insists on permission to express -- Knesset mayhem ensued, after Bibi & opposition fencing -- loud & shallow show, not substantive debate -- lol ... debates between the two don't involve policy agreements Netanyahu -- Meir Dagan (former Mossad) - critic of Bibi on Iran -- Yuval Diskin (former Shin Bet) - critic of Bibi on Palestine -- Yaakov Peri (former Shin Bet) - critic of Bibi on Palestine Palestine = stalemate Bibi policy = “wait-for-them-to-change” Bibi most effective opponents: -- former heads of security agencies -- criticise him publicly -- but Bibi continues to consult with them (whaaaaa?) Sheldon Adelson -- funds pro-Netanyahu:   Israel Hayom freebie newspaper ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Part summary above. Already did a summary on Israel's view on its neighbours in 2006, just before this, so I'm sort of going to sleep & need a break for a bit. Might watch that Russian documentary:  'World Order' and get back to this later. ꕤ