Itamar Eichner and Tzipi Shmilovitz
YnetSat, 17 Dec 2016 21:19 UTC
Yossi Cohen, director of Mossad
In a clandestine visit, the head of the Mossad and a security delegation organized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the United States to meet with President-elect Trump's staff and brief him on security issues.
Director of the Mossad, Yossi Cohen, clandestinely visited the United States to meet with President-elect Donald Trump's staff and brief them on pressing security matters including the Iranian nuclear deal, the Syrian civil war, terror threats and the Palestinian issue.
The security delegation was organized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was led by National Security Council head Yaakov Nagel. The Israeli ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer was also present during meetings.
The two sides also discussed a regional conference to be hosted by Egypt and other initiatives on the agenda including a UN initiative put forth by the Palestinians and New Zealand.
Additionally, Israeli officials have also reached out to the President-elect to ask him to come out against President Obama and veto a Palestinian bid submitted to the Security Council.
The proposal is expected to be up for a vote before Obama leaves office on January 20. The proposal seeks to label settlements as illegal and implicitly calls on the international community to boycott Israel.
Comment: How often do other nations' security agencies meet with presidents of countries that are not their own? Answer: not often, unless of course they are meeting to discuss security for a visit or to discuss some sensitive part of a operation. But then again, Mossad is no ordinary security agency of course.
On that note, one imagines the conversation went something like this:
Cohen: "Donny boy, you know we have the best surveillance and spying in the world, right?"
Trump: "I hear its tremendous, Yossi. Just tremendous."
Cohen: "Yes, tremendous even here in the US. We have lots of friends who want to help you with - security."
Trump: "Much appreciated, but I think we'll be ok Yossi."
Cohen: "Believe me Donald, no one is clean. No one. And we like to protect our friends from any negative information coming out about them - especially when our friends help us with our security concerns. Like the Palestinians. Like Syria. Like Iran."
Trump: "I think I understand, Yossi. We definitely share your concerns, one hundred percent. Now let me suggest this to you: Downstairs on the first floor is a wonderful restaurant that serves the best burritos in town. Honestly, the best in the city. Thanks so much for visiting. A pleasure. Israel is just a fantastic country. Fantastic. We look forward to working with you. You have a great meal. Its on me. And have a nice day."
Comment: How often do other nations' security agencies meet with presidents of countries that are not their own? Answer: not often, unless of course they are meeting to discuss security for a visit or to discuss some sensitive part of a operation. But then again, Mossad is no ordinary security agency of course.
On that note, one imagines the conversation went something like this:
Cohen: "Donny boy, you know we have the best surveillance and spying in the world, right?"
Trump: "I hear its tremendous, Yossi. Just tremendous."
Cohen: "Yes, tremendous even here in the US. We have lots of friends who want to help you with - security."
Trump: "Much appreciated, but I think we'll be ok Yossi."
Cohen: "Believe me Donald, no one is clean. No one. And we like to protect our friends from any negative information coming out about them - especially when our friends help us with our security concerns. Like the Palestinians. Like Syria. Like Iran."
Trump: "I think I understand, Yossi. We definitely share your concerns, one hundred percent. Now let me suggest this to you: Downstairs on the first floor is a wonderful restaurant that serves the best burritos in town. Honestly, the best in the city. Thanks so much for visiting. A pleasure. Israel is just a fantastic country. Fantastic. We look forward to working with you. You have a great meal. Its on me. And have a nice day."