Ex-Shin Bet Chief Demands Security Probe into PM's Advisor's WhatsApp Data Leak

Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen is calling for an immediate investigation into a report alleging that the WhatsApp management service used by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's advisor, Yoni Arik, may be operated by an individual with ties to Arab nations, including Syria and Saudi Arabia. Cohen, who is ranked second on Gadi Eisenkot's National Unity party list, stated on X that this constitutes a "severe security incident requiring immediate Shin Bet examination and a comprehensive damage assessment."

The report by Calcalist revealed that Arik connected his personal WhatsApp account to a management service from a company registered in the UAE, granting it unencrypted, full access to all his communications and media. Given Arik's role, he regularly communicates with individuals in the Prime Minister's Office and the government, meaning sensitive information could have been accessible to UAE authorities under local laws.

Calcalist further identified the service operator as Mwaffak Zakaryia, who has reportedly lived in Saudi Arabia and Syria and may have managed the service from one of these countries. Cohen urged the Shin Bet to investigate what materials were exposed, who accessed them, and if sensitive information from the Prime Minister's Office reached foreign hands.

Cohen criticized the Prime Minister's Office as chaotic and noted that Arik's alleged involvement in such issues, especially after reports of him receiving funds from Qatar and lacking security clearance, poses a serious risk. He argued that a responsible prime minister would have removed such an advisor long ago.

Former Shin Bet official Dvir Kariv echoed these concerns, demanding that Arik's phone be seized for examination, his phone replaced, and a thorough debriefing conducted regarding the extent of the damage. Arik himself has not responded to Calcalist's requests for comment but has not denied the revelations on X.