Former Shin Bet chief threatens legal action against Channel 14 over false claim

Yoram Cohen, the former head of Israel’s Shin Bet and now a candidate on the Yesh! with Eisenkot list, has launched legal action over remarks aired on Channel 14. Through the law firm Ben Tzur Korv & Co., he filed a direct claim against panelist Mika Koobi and sent a formal pre-action warning to the channel’s management.

The dispute stems from a mid-June appearance on Shimon Riklin’s current affairs program on Channel 14. During the discussion, Koobi alleged that Cohen applied heavy pressure on government officials to win the release of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar from prison, and claimed this happened even though intelligence and the Shin Bet allegedly already had information suggesting Sinwar intended to carry out a future mass massacre. When given a chance to qualify his comments, Koobi stood by them and said, “This is what happened.”

Cohen’s circle and his party vehemently deny the accusations, calling them a complete fabrication and a “blood libel.” They say that as Yesh! with Eisenkot becomes a serious political alternative, efforts to smear its members are intensifying through false campaigns. The letter sent by his lawyers says blaming Cohen morally and security-wise for the October 7 atrocities, by inventing facts that have no basis in reality, gravely harms his name and legacy, especially because the remarks were broadcast on a national TV channel at a sensitive political moment.

Cohen’s attorneys gave Channel 14 seven days to issue a prominent on-air correction and apology in the same time slot and on Riklin’s program. They also demand that the channel immediately remove any video, clip, or post containing the allegations from its digital accounts, website, and social media. If the channel does not respond, the lawyers say they will expand the legal fight and sue Channel 14 itself for defamation.