The Guardian: ‘Israeli’ Spy Chief Threatened ICC Prosecutor over War Crimes Inquiry

By Staff, Agencies

The Guardian revealed on Tuesday that the former head of the Mossad, Yossi Cohen threatened the former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda so that she closes the investigation of “Israeli” war crimes.

According to the British daily, Cohen and Bensouda secretly met in the years preceding her decision to open an official investigation in 2021 on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Palestinian territories.

The Guardian noted that Cohen's involvement against the ICC occurred while he served as head of the Mossad. The report cited an “Israeli” source that noted that the Mossad sought to “compromise the prosecutor or enlist her as someone who would cooperate with ‘Israel's’ demands.”

Another source told The Guardian that Cohen was acting as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's “unofficial messenger.”

The Guardian quoted Cohen as saying, “You should help us and let us take care of you. You don’t want to be getting into things that could compromise your security or that of your family.”

Between late 2019 and early 2021, the sources said, there were at least three encounters between Cohen and Bensouda, all initiated by the spy chief. His behavior is said to have become increasingly concerning to ICC officials.

Other reports of intimidation were revealed by The Guardian, which added that the Mossad, under Cohen's tenure, took an interest in the prosecutor's family, even obtaining transcripts of conversations between Bensouda and her husband in an attempt to use these conversations to discredit her.

On one occasion, Cohen is said to have shown Bensouda copies of photographs of her husband, which were taken covertly when the couple were visiting London. On another, according to sources, Cohen suggested to the prosecutor that a decision to open a full investigation would be detrimental to her career.

Four sources familiar with the situation said it was around the same time that Bensouda and other ICC officials discovered that information was circulating among diplomatic channels relating to her husband, who worked as an international affairs consultant.

An individual, quoted by The Guardian, stated that Cohen used “despicable tactics” against the former prosecutor, even likening his behavior to "stalking."

Additionally, in the attempts to sway Bensouda, “Israel” was reportedly supported by Joseph Kabila, former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who played an unknown role in supporting the plot.

The investigation came to light following Karim Khan, Bensouda's successor, announcing his intention to seek arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, among them Netanyahu.