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| Mossad Director, Yossi Cohen Photo Credit: Flash 90 / Channel 2 News |
After a delay of several weeks, the Israeli Prime Minister announced that Cohen, Head of the National Security Council of Israel, will serve as the next Mossad Director. Cohen is considered close to Netanyahu and served as Deputy Mossad Director in the past.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced this evening (Monday) that Yossi Cohen will be appointed as Mossad Director and will replace Tamir Pardo, whose tenure is coming to an end. Cohen currently serves as National Security Advisor and as Head of the National Security Council (NSC) of Israel.“All three people whose candidacy I considered were excellent people, talented, with vast experience and exceptionally high capabilities,” Netanyahu stated. “I considered things responsibly and seriously and eventually decided that the next Mossad director will be Yossi Cohen.”
“He served as head of the NSC in recent years, he has vast experience and achievements, with proven capabilities in a variety of field related to the Mossad’s activity,” Netanyahu added. “He has leadership capabilities and professional understanding, which are the qualities that are required from whoever will lead the organization.”
Cohen was born in the neighborhood of Katamon in Jerusalem. His mother was a teacher and his father was part of the Irgun. He is married and has four children. In his youth, he studied at Yeshivat Or Etzion, and he joined the ranks of the Mossad in 1984.
In 2006, Cohen was appointed Head of the Tzomet Department, responsible for operating Mossad agents across the globe. A team from his department won the Israel Defense Prize under his reign. In 2011, he was appointed Deputy Mossad Director and Director of Operations in the organization. In 2013 he was elected by Netanyahu to serve as National Security Advisor and Head of the National Security Council, and has served in these roles since November 2013.
