According to leaked Pentagon reports, Israel’s spy agency, the Mossad, allegedly instigated protests against the judicial reform proposed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, according to several international media outlets. The reports suggest that in February of this year, Mossad leaders “advocated for Mossad officials and Israeli citizens to protest against the judicial reforms proposed by the new Israeli government, including several explicit calls to action that condemned the Israeli government.”
Although no names or details are specified, it is mentioned that some low-ranking members of the Mossad were given permission to join the demonstrations, as long as they did not identify themselves as members of the agency. Hundreds of former Mossad employees, including five former chiefs, also reportedly signed a statement in March against Netanyahu’s reform.
The Israeli government has strongly denied the allegations, calling them false and baseless. A statement issued on behalf of the Mossad noted that “the Mossad and its senior officials did not, and do not, encourage agency personnel to join anti-government demonstrations, political rallies, or any other political activity.”
The demonstrations that have taken place in Israel in recent months reject the reform proposed by Netanyahu’s nationalist-religious coalition, which seeks to give the government decisive influence in the selection of judges and limit the scope of the Supreme Court to strike down laws or rule against the executive. Critics argue that this would greatly weaken judicial independence, given that Israel has no constitution but only a coalition-controlled parliamentary committee.