L to R: Pardo, Netanyahu and Cohen
Photos: Yair Sagi, Emil Salman, Motti Kimchi
Report: Netanyahu's wiretapping request aimed to 'deter' leaks on possible Iran strike
Alleged wiretapping request by PM Netanyahu on IDF chief, ex-Mossad head reportedly also included dozens of other officials and was meant as sweeping deterrence measure against leaks on possible strike on Iran's nuclear facility.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's alleged request from then-head of the Shin Bet Yoram Cohen to wiretap former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz and former Mossad director Tamir Pardo was reportedly not specifically targeting the two security officials, but rather intended as a sweeping deterrence measure to prevent leaks from a top-secret government project seemingly connected to Israel's plans to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
According to several Israeli news outlets, between 2012 and 2013 a secret strategic project was initiated jointly by the government, the IDF, the Mossad and several other bodies in preparation for a possible attack on Iran's nuclear facility.
L to R: Former Mossad director Tamir Pardo, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Shin Bet director Yoram Cohen (Photos: Yair Sagi, Emil Salman, Motti Kimchi)
At the time, Pardo and Gantz were freshly appointed. Shortly after they entered their respective posts, It came to Netanyahu knowledge that they both thought it would be a mistake to send the air force to attack Iran's nuclear facility, believing it could escalate tensions into a full-blown armed conflict with the Islamic Republic.
When the top-secret project was initiated, all those involved signed a confidentiality agreement not to disclose anything discussed in the meetings, but Netanyahu still feared the possibility of a leak, and asked the head of the Shin Bet at the time, Cohen, to step up supervision of all the secret partners, including the chief of staff and the head of the Mossad.
"Create a team and operate all the tools you have at your disposal, including wiretaps," Netanyahu purportedly told Cohen.
Cohen is said to have told Netanyahu that, although he shares his concern for information security, he does not intend to wiretap his colleagues at the Mossad and the IDF. Instead, Cohen suggested that Netanyahu place the put the task on the Director of Security of the Defense Establishment (the DSDE, or MALMAB)—a body that lacks the surveillance capabilities that the Shin Bet has.
Netanyahu accepted Cohen's advice and, according to a Channel 2 news report, made it clear to him his goal was "not to invade (people's privacy)," but rather "to deter" potential leakers.
The DSDE was thus ordered to surveil the aforementioned parties, who were all directly informed of this.
