Full Breakdown
Yoram Cohen Joins Yashar! Ahead of Critical Israeli Elections
5/6/2026, 12:16:47 AM
Yoram Cohen Joins Yashar! Ahead of Critical Elections
Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen announced on Tuesday in Tel Aviv that he will run on the Yashar! party list led by former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. Cohen said he sees Eisenkot as the best prime-ministerial candidate and joined to confront what he described as “misguided leadership” under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The party positions itself as a centrist alternative in the election expected by October.
Opposition Landscape and Yashar!’s Formation
Yashar! emerged as a leading opposition bloc seeking to replace Netanyahu’s coalition. It competes with the “Together” alliance of former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, which polls at 26 Knesset seats, and with Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu, which holds six seats. Eisenkot’s party was founded after his departure from the Blue and White faction and has been recruiting former officials to broaden its appeal.
Principal Actors
- Yoram Cohen – Shin Bet head 2011-2016, vocal critic of Netanyahu’s use of security agencies.
- Gadi Eisenkot – Former IDF chief of staff, Yashar! leader.
- Benjamin Netanyahu – Incumbent prime minister, subject of Cohen’s accusations.
- Naftali Bennett & Yair Lapid – Leaders of the Together list.
- Avigdor Liberman – Head of Yisrael Beytenu, in early merger talks with Yashar!.
- Additional Yashar! entrants include Inbar Yehezkeli, Shaul Meridor, Matan Kahana, Orit Farkash-Hacohen, and Inbar Harush Gity.
Chronology of Recent Developments
- 2011-2016: Cohen serves as Shin Bet chief.
- April 2025: Cohen alleges Netanyahu asked him to monitor classified information and revoke Naftali Bennett’s security clearance.
- January 2024-2025: Initial reports of a possible Yashar!-Beytenu merger.
- Tuesday (date unspecified): Cohen joins Yashar!; joint press conference held.
- Recent weeks: Channel 12 poll releases seat projections for opposition parties.
Poll Numbers and Party Composition
Channel 12 poll projects Together 26 seats, Yashar! 15 seats, and Yisrael Beytenu 6 seats. A Yashar!-Beytenu union could yield about 25 seats. Yashar!’s list is gender-balanced (50 % women) and reserves one-third of slots for candidates under 35.
Potential Political Consequences
Cohen’s entry adds security credibility to Yashar! and may attract voters concerned about national safety. The party’s stance against Netanyahu’s coalition could reshape opposition negotiations, especially as Eisenkot explores alliances with Beytenu while rejecting a merger with Together.
Official Statements and Party Responses
Eisenkot praised Cohen’s “35 years of rich security experience” and framed the partnership as a “leadership of responsibility and integrity.” Cohen warned that Netanyahu’s “failed” coalition is “irresponsible and dangerous.” Netanyahu’s office denied Cohen’s allegations of illicit requests. Eisenkot also said Yashar! will consider any partnership that upholds a “Jewish-democratic state” and excluded Arab parties from potential coalitions.
Criticism of the Netanyahu Government
Cohen claimed Netanyahu asked him to wiretap senior defense officials and to revoke Bennett’s security clearance, describing these as “illegitimate acts.” He characterized the current leadership as “misguided” and warned of a “dangerous brink.” Netanyahu’s administration refuted these claims, labeling them fabricated.
Conflicting Accounts and Unresolved Issues
Cohen’s accusations of Netanyahu-ordered surveillance contrast with the prime minister’s denial, leaving the factual basis unresolved. Details of any Yashar!-Beytenu merger, including leadership and seat allocation, remain unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I see Gadi as the best candidate to be prime minister in the upcoming elections,” — Yoram Cohen, former Shin Bet chief
- “, Cohen said that "Israel is facing major security and social challenges, and misguided leadership in handling them, as we see today, could bring us to a dangerous brink at a critical moment.” — Yoram Cohen
- “Yoram, my friend, brings with him more than 35 years of rich security experience and expertise in all matters related to national security. He is a professional, statesmanlike and ethical voice who represents the type of leadership that Yashar offers to the people of Israel. Leadership of responsibility and integrity; of results, not of slogans,” — Gadi Eisenkot, Yashar! leader
- “The choice to enter politics is not natural for me. I spent most of my life behind the scenes, and I prefer field operations over speeches,” — Yoram Cohen
- “He also calls on all parties currently polling under the electoral threshold, including his old party, Blue and White, to either drop out of the race or join with other factions.” — Gadi Eisenkot
Outlook for the Election
The election must be held by October. Yashar! will continue merger talks with Beytenu while solidifying its candidate list, and poll updates will gauge its impact on the opposition’s ability to unseat Netanyahu’s government.
