Former Shin Bet Chief Sends Legal Warning to Channel 14 Over Alleged False Claims

Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, who recently joined the "Yashar!" party led by Gadi Eisenkot, sent a pre-lawsuit warning letter on Wednesday to Channel 14 and filed a lawsuit against panelist Micha Kobi. Cohen says the broadcasts contained false and damaging statements about him.

The dispute centers on comments Kobi made during a June 17 broadcast on Shimon Riklin's program. Kobi alleged that Cohen had worked to secure the release of Yahya Sinwar even though he supposedly knew Sinwar intended to carry out a future massacre. Cohen rejected the allegations outright, calling them false.

Cohen said Channel 14 provided a platform for what he described as "a serious false smear" against him after many years in the security establishment. He also argued that as the political alternative led by Eisenkot and "Yashar!" grows stronger, attacks and defamation campaigns against its members are also intensifying.

The warning letter and lawsuit were submitted through the law firm Ben-Tzur, Koorv & Co. Cohen is demanding that Kobi retract his remarks, while Channel 14 has been asked to publish a public correction and apology, state that the claims were untrue, and remove the offending publications.