Former Mossad directors Tamir Pardo and Yossi Cohen have revealed too many details about the spy agency’s operations, MK Ram Ben-Barak (Yesh Atid) said in an interview with 103FM on Sunday.
Ben-Barak claimed the two had exposed sensitive methods and compromised security, adding that such disclosures serve personal gain more than the national interest.
“You don’t need to reveal everything, methods and training,” he added. “What does it give us besides Israeli pride? It doesn’t add anything. In 20 years, we can talk about it.”
Ben-Barak’s comments followed an episode of N12’s Uvda (Facts) in which a Mossad agent who worked in Iran was interviewed.
Ben-Barak, himself a former deputy Mossad chief, said, “I didn’t like this broadcast. I think it’s completely unnecessary.”
Addressing Pardo and Cohen’s participation, Ben-Barak said, “In my view, they made a mistake.”
He noted that the credit belonged to Meir Dagan and two colleagues who led the effort, “but we don’t need to talk about these things.”
Ben-Barak warns not to trust MK Gotliv
Ben-Barak also cautioned against appointing MK Tally Gotliv (Likud) to the Knesset Subcommittee on Intelligence and Secret Services after his removal, saying that exposing operational details and methods could jeopardize security.
“Anyone who has failed once with a leak cannot come near this committee,” he said.
“This is the only place in Israel where the military speaks openly because it knows nothing leaks and nothing has ever leaked. Therefore, if you are the committee chair, you must think very carefully about whom you let in.”