Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday named National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen as the new Mossad director. Cohen will replace outgoing Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, who will retire in January after five years in office. Cohen's appointment is pending confirmation by the Public Service Nominations Committee. His replacement as head of the National Security Council has yet to be named. "Yossi Cohen has 30 years of experience in operational, intelligence and executive positions. His service with the Mossad has seen him acquire extensive knowledge in the workings of complex systems and the international theater, and he has a wealth of experience working with the defense establishment," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. Cohen is also a past winner of the prestigious Israel Defense Prize, which he was awarded for a covert operation hailed as a "major intelligence breakthrough." 'A man of exceptional leadership skills' Netanyahu announced the nomination in a special press conference on Monday night. "My first goal as prime minister is to bolster Israel's security opposite the global turmoil prompted by radical Islam. Radical Islam is led by two forces, Iran and Islamic State, which exercise violence and terrorism in our region, and effectively threaten the Middle East and the entire world," Netanyahu said. "Radical Islam's terrorism has stuck Paris, London, Istanbul, Mali and California, and it has also struck us. Palestinian terrorism stems from a fundamental objection to our very existence, and it is fueled by false religious incitement suggesting we allegedly seek to destroy Al-Aqsa mosque. "Faced with bloodthirsty enemies, we fight back. IDF and police forces operate wherever necessary, and the government, under my leadership, offers them its full backing. Our security forces arrest terrorists, raze murderers' homes, remain vigilant at all times and do not hesitate to engage the enemy. Working tirelessly to thwart terrorist attacks, the Shin Bet security agency contributes greatly to Israel's security." Turning his attention to the Mossad, the prime minister said, "The men and women of the Mossad work year-round, demonstrating exceptional courage and ingenuity, at times at considerable personal risk. They do so to ensure Israel's security versus the threat of terrorism, the Iranian threat and many other threats. "The Mossad is an operational body, an intelligence apparatus, and at times the one that paves the way for diplomatic moves, especially where countries with which we do not maintain official ties are concerned," Netanyahu said. "When considering the nomination of the next Mossad director I had to consider these three components: The operational tier, where the Mossad will continue to bolster our security via operations whose details are best left unsaid; the intelligence tier, where the Mossad will continue to adjust its abilities to the age of cybertechnology, so it can maintain its position as one of the leading intelligence agencies in the world; and the diplomatic tier, where the Mossad will continue to assist me, as prime minister, in developing international ties, including with Arab and Muslim nations. "These ties were evident during my visit to Paris last week, where I met with many world leaders, who expressed their appreciation of Israel as a nation that stands steadfast against radical Islam and wages a relentless war or terror. "The Mossad director must be able to lead the agency boldly, wisely and professionally," Netanyahu continued. "Choosing between the candidates was not easy, but we were spoiled for choice, and the three people considered for this position are outstanding, highly experienced and very capable individuals. After careful consideration, I have decided to name Yossi Cohen as the new Mossad director. "Yossi, who has been the national security adviser for the past three years, is a man of great experience and achievements, versed in the workings of the Mossad. He is a man of exceptional leadership and analytical skills -- characteristics that are imperative in the individual meant to lead the Mossad. "I would like to thank Tamir Pardo for his exceptional service as Mossad director, and I would like to thank the two other exceptional candidates, for whose service the Israeli public is indebted. I'm sure they will continue to serve the State of Israel faithfully, each in his own way. I thank them and I wish the new Mossad director the best of luck," Netanyahu concluded. Cohen, 54, will be the Mossad's 12th director. Speaking with reporters outside his home on Sunday night, he said, "I would like to thank Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the faith invested in me. I'm humbled by the importance of this office. I will do my best to faithfully serve the Israeli public." The married father of four has been a part of the defense establishment for the past 30 years. He held various operational and executive positions in the Mossad, including heading Tzomet, the intelligence agency's international operations unit.
Credit: Reuters
Formerly deputy Mossad director, Cohen was named national security adviser in 2013, becoming the fourth intelligence agency official to head the National Security Council, which operates under the Prime Minister's Office.
