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Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence service, tried on several occasions to put pressure on the former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, to obtain the abandonment of the procedure which led his successor to request, last week, the issuance of arrest warrants against the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reported Tuesday The Guardianciting multiple sources.

THE “secret contacts” by Yossi Cohen with Fatou Bensouda took place in the years leading up to the opening, in 2021, of an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity that may have been committed in the occupied Palestinian territories, according to the British daily.

In addition to Benjamin Netanyahu, the request for arrest warrants made on May 20 by Karim Khan, who succeeded Fatou Bensouda in June 2021, concerns the Israeli Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders.

According to a senior Israeli official cited by the Guardianwhich does not reveal their identity, these “contacts” were authorized ” at high level “ and were justified by the fact that the ICC procedure could pave the way for prosecutions against Israeli soldiers. The Mossad’s objective was to obtain the prosecutor’s cooperation or, failing that, to compromise her, says the newspaper, citing another Israeli source. “informed of the operation”.

Worried about behavior “more and more insistent and threatening” of Yossi Cohen, Fatou Bensouda informed other ICC staff members, which four of them confirmed, according to the Guardian. According to their testimony, continues the author of the article, the head of Mossad notably declared to the prosecutor: “You should help us and let us take care of you.” You don’t want to engage in things that could compromise your safety or that of your family. »

“The Mossad also took a close interest in members of M’s family^me Bensouda and obtained transcripts of secret recordings from her husband, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the situation. Israeli officials then attempted to use these documents to discredit the prosecutor.he writes.

Contacted by Guardiana spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister denounced “false allegations (…) intended to harm the State of Israel”. The daily says it has obtained no response to the questions submitted to Mr. Cohen. As for M^me Bensouda, she refused to comment, he adds.

On May 3, Karim Kahn sent a warning to “individuals who threaten (the ICC) of retaliation »without specifying who these threats emanated from.