In the video: former head of the Mossad Yossi Cohen in an interview with Tel Shalu on his weekend/still photo: Raben Castro
111 days into the war, and against the backdrop of the crisis with Qatar in the midst of negotiations for the release of the hostages held in Gaza - former head of the Mossad Yossi Cohen warns of the damage that will be caused by the deterioration of relations with the state, which serves as the main mediator in the negotiations for the deal. The
current crisis broke out, as you remember, after Netanyahu criticized Qatar During a conversation with the families of the abductees. "It's puzzling to me," says Cohen about the Prime Minister's conduct in an interview with Walla Studio, "When I came to the discussions in the first days, I recommended realizing healthy relations to the best of my ability with Qatar.
My real concern is that if we don't do this and we reach too great a crisis with them, Qatar will run away from the negotiations and we will be left without effective mediation."
"The responsibility for the citizens of Gaza is still with us - and this is a mistake that needs to be corrected."
Cohen in "His Weekend"/Reuven Castro
"They are the only effective mediators, we shouldn't be left without them."
Emir of Qatar Al-Thani, last December/Reuters
The crisis facing Doha naturally also raises the question of transferring the Qatari money to the Gaza Strip for many years - a step that in 2021 even Cohen himself began to express reservations about.
"I implemented the government's policy. I said at a certain point that the flow of funds should be stopped," he says.
And what did the political echelon say?
"It will be said one day. My position is equal to my position. She is not a decision-making rank."
So what should happen in Gaza the day after?
"I want to argue for complete disengagement. We did disengage, but not really. There is no soldier, no officer, no woman or child in the Gaza Strip. We gave them all 365 square kilometers. The responsibility for the safety of the civilian population in Gaza remains in our hands. We need to correct this mistake." .
In the government today they say exactly the opposite.
The settlement presence is needed in addition to the security one.
"I think it is necessary to lock the Gaza Strip, as we did with Lebanon. Define that this line is a blue line, and no one should cross. I hope that the discussions the day after will present the State of Israel with several alternatives. There are many options that need to be checked to see if they can even exist."
"At a certain point, I said that the Qatari money to Gaza should be stopped."
Cohen on his weekend/Reuven Castro
"Marked me as an heir? You have to ask him."
Cohen with Netanyahu in 2017/Walla!
NEWS, Haim Tzach, CEO
"We need to lock the Strip, as we did with Lebanon."
IDF forces are operating in Gaza/IDF spokesman
In the interview, Cohen, formerly one of the closest people to Netanyahu, refers to his relationship with the prime minister.
"In the first month, I talked to him about the day after. Recently less," he says.
There is a feeling that the relationship between you has been missed.
He previously marked you as an heir.
"You have to ask him. There is no crisis between us."
It could be that the relationship between you deteriorated because you intended to enter politics.
"I haven't decided whether to enter politics. The polls are not for me. It's an interesting phenomenon, and it all starts with a report by Tal Shalov in Vala. That's what it did."
The full interview - on the show "His Weekend" on Vala Plus
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