Former Shin Bet Chief Yoram Cohen Vows to Push 'Defendant Law' in Next Israeli Government

Yoram Cohen, former head of Israel's Shin Bet and a senior figure in Gadi Eizenkot's political party, expressed hope that the "Defendant Law" will be passed in the next government. The law aims to prevent any Knesset member facing criminal indictment from forming a government. Cohen noted that the bill was discussed during the previous Lapid-Bennett government but failed due to opposition, notably from Ayelet Shaked. Had it passed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have been barred from forming the current government due to his ongoing criminal trial.

The proposed amendment to the Basic Law: The Government stipulates that anyone indicted for crimes punishable by three years or more in prison cannot receive a mandate to form a government unless the offense is deemed not disgraceful. Currently, indictment alone does not disqualify a Knesset member from serving as prime minister. Cohen made these remarks at a private event in Shoham attended by supporters of liberal religious Zionism.

Cohen also promised to form a government with no more than 24 ministers and reiterated that if his party fails to secure 61 Knesset seats, they would consider a minority government. He avoided confirming whether they would rely on the Ra'am party's abstention to form a government, emphasizing a preference for 61 Zionist seats.

Addressing internal Shin Bet issues, Cohen criticized current head David Zini, warning against political interference in the agency. He stressed the importance of maintaining Shin Bet's apolitical and professional nature, especially resisting any political or personal demands from Netanyahu that could harm public trust.

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Cohen dismissed the idea of a Palestinian state as irrelevant, suggesting autonomy might be the maximum achievable. He opposed full annexation of the West Bank, citing risks of turning Israel into a binational state and damaging peace agreements.

Regarding election security, Cohen highlighted Shin Bet's role in protecting against cyberattacks and maintaining election integrity, coordinating with police and national cyber authorities. However, he cautioned against expanding Shin Bet's role in policing Arab sector crime, citing operational limits, risks of exposing intelligence methods, and potential negative perceptions among Arab Israelis.

Cohen's comments reflect ongoing debates within Israeli politics about governance, security, and the rule of law amid Netanyahu's legal challenges and the complex political landscape.