Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen on Sunday called for a halt to the legislation of the judicial reform, while at the same time attacking the phenomenon of refusal to serve as a means of protesting the reform.
In an interview with Channel 12 News, Cohen explained his decision to speak out publicly, which is unusual for him. "I decided it's time to come out with a call. To stop what we're seeing right now. Recalculate or think about how to get on a new course together."
"On a personal level, the State of Israel is the thing that interests me the most, along with my family, my friends, and all the other things that are important. Tonight I feel, and that's how I spent this very complex night as well, that we are really on a collision course where, in my opinion, both the opponents of the reform and maybe also on the other side, red lines that have not been crossed so far might be crossed."
"In order for these lines not to be crossed and for us to continue living here in a sovereign state, a democratic and Jewish state, and I can't separate between these things and say what is more important than what, everything in my eyes is important as one track. I think the time has come and nothing will happen if we stop, think, talk together and maybe try to reach some kind of agreements," Cohen added.
"I'm afraid that if I don't say what I think, the situation of the State of Israel may, heaven forbid, deteriorate. The national concern outweighs the private concern. You don't put the personal interest as a determining interest. I placed the national interest as the determining interest. My friends, my colleagues from the defense organizations, all those who say ‘we are there to protect you, the citizens of the State of Israel, to the extent of paying a personal price’ - this is the defining event. The State of Israel is ahead of our personal interest, and that's how I feel today," he continued.
Cohen went on to say that demonstrations are logical but refusal to serve is out of the question.
"One red line that I don't think should be crossed is the security service. I've worked under all the prime ministers since 1983. There are people who worked with me whose political opinion I don’t even know. We didn't ask them. I called to stop [the legislation] because my biggest fear is that they will go there and this is the red line that will be crossed. I don't want this line to be crossed and I'm also firmly convinced that it's wrong to cross it. In this matter you have to be very, very firm. I think that I strongly agree with the Chief of Staff's position.Herzi Halevi is right in his resolute call: ‘Don't do that.It will harm the competence of all of us.'"
