Former Shin Bet Director Yoram Cohen Joins Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar Party Alongside Lawmaker Ram Ben Barak

Former Shin Bet head Yoram Cohen and MK Ram Ben Barak reportedly join Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, bolstering the slate’s security credentials.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 4:20 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Times of Israel

Intelligence Veteran Bolsters New Political Slate

In a significant realignment within the Israeli center, former Shin Bet Director Yoram Cohen is reportedly finalizing his entry into the political arena by joining the Yashar party. According to the Arutz Sheva news outlet, Cohen will run on the electoral list led by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, though his specific numerical placement on the slate has not yet been finalized. The addition of a high profile security figure is expected to strengthen the party's credentials as a hawkish yet centrist alternative to the current administration.

Security Heavyweights Consolidate Under Eisenkot

The Yashar party appears to be attracting a concentrated group of former security officials, with reports indicating that Ram Ben Barak is also prepared to join the movement. Ben Barak, a current Member of the Knesset for the Yesh Atid party and a former deputy director of the Mossad, represents a high level defection from Yair Lapid’s faction. This consolidation suggests a strategic effort by Eisenkot to build a platform dominated by defense veterans, potentially appealing to voters who prioritize national security and institutional stability.

The Evolution of a Security Relationship

Yoram Cohen’s transition to the opposition comes after years of working at the highest levels of the Israeli government. He served as the head of the Shin Bet between 2011 and 2016, a tenure that took place primarily under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While their professional relationship was once close, Cohen has since emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the Prime Minister, joining a growing list of former security chiefs who have publicly broken ties with the Likud leader.