A newly published memoir by former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen details a proposed plan to temporarily displace 1.5 million Palestinians to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, as revealed in his book “Wars are Made with Schemes.” The controversial proposal, reportedly approved by the Israeli cabinet but ultimately rejected by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, offers a rare glimpse into the high-stakes strategic considerations shaping Israel’s response to the October 7th attacks and raises questions about potential solutions considered during the crisis.Cohen’s account, serialized in Al-Monitor, also touches on the challenges of israeli public diplomacy and internal security dynamics.
Former head of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, Yossi Cohen, reveals in his recently published book, “Wars are Made with Schemes,” that he devised a plan to temporarily displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip during the current conflict. The proposal, which Cohen insists was not intended as a permanent expulsion, involved relocating 1.5 million Palestinians to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. The revelation comes as international pressure mounts for a resolution to the ongoing crisis and raises questions about potential strategies considered by Israeli officials.
Cohen’s book, titled “Wars are Made with Schemes” in Hebrew, is published as “Sword of Freedom: Israel’s Mossad and the Secret War” in English.
Gaza Displacement: A “Temporary” Relocation
Table of Contents
Cohen claims he proposed the relocation of approximately 1.5 million Palestinians from Gaza to the Sinai Peninsula in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. He stated his plan was for a “temporary” migration, explaining that the Israeli cabinet approved the idea and tasked him with persuading Arab nations to accept it, believing it would reduce civilian casualties.
According to Cohen, he traveled to Arab capitals to advocate for the plan but encountered resistance rooted in fears that the “temporary” relocation could become permanent. He offered to secure international guarantees ensuring the migration would be temporary, and initiated contacts with the United States, Britain, Japan, China, and India. However, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ultimately rejected the proposal.
An alternative suggestion for Cohen to lead negotiations for a prisoner exchange was also reportedly blocked by other Israeli security officials.
Arrogance… A Failure of Israeli Propaganda
Cohen repeatedly emphasizes the need for Israeli leaders to demonstrate humility throughout his book, yet appears to exhibit arrogance himself. He expressed surprise at the global opposition to Israel’s war against Gaza and the widespread dissemination of footage from the Strip.
Rather than criticizing the harm inflicted on Gazan civilians, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths in the pursuit of targeting Hamas, Cohen attributes the issue to a failure of Israeli propaganda, arguing that his government doesn’t dedicate enough effort to presenting its perspective. He overlooks the significant influence of the pro-Israel lobby in foreign media and the fact that many Jewish individuals have joined protests against Israel’s actions.
Cohen goes further, suggesting Israeli leaders are disconnected from their people, lacking empathy and compassion for Israeli citizens, and therefore unable to accurately convey the suffering to both domestic and international audiences. This, he believes, makes the world susceptible to Hamas’s narrative.
Despite the horrific acts experienced by residents of Israeli towns bordering Gaza, including reports of mass rape, beheadings, and mutilation of bodies, Cohen notes the world still demanded Israel halt the war. Israel maintains that Hamas militants committed these acts during the October 7 attack, a claim Hamas denies.
Cohen presents what he believes should be Israel’s public relations strategy, citing statements from Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, who rejects a two-state solution and advocates for resistance to Israeli occupation throughout Palestine “from the river to the sea.” He asserts that peace is impossible with those who do not recognize Israel’s right to exist, while overlooking the legitimate Palestinian leadership, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, which recognizes Israel and seeks a Palestinian state alongside it on 22% of historic Palestine – a leadership Israel actively works to undermine.
Muhammad Ali Clay
Cohen states he admires the late boxer Muhammad Ali Clay, who believed victory or defeat was determined away from the public eye, before entering the boxing ring. “When I am in training, or traveling by car, long before I start dancing in the ring.” Cohen says, “I was a boy imagining himself an agent spying with the eyes of a falcon, with the cunning of a fox, and with the leaping ability of a leopard. And when he carries out the mission, he enjoys the patience of a sniper, the spontaneity of a magician, and faces the luck of carrying out missions in Beirut, Gaza, Khartoum, and elsewhere.”
He discusses the importance of a Mossad operative excelling over their counterparts, recounting how he posed as an “archaeology expert” in Baalbek, Lebanon, and a “tea enthusiast” while operating in Sudan. He reveals the methods used by Israeli intelligence to recruit agents, finding them remarkably similar to ancient espionage techniques – exploiting human weaknesses, aberrant behaviors, and motivations like financial gain, ideology, or personal relationships.
He justifies these tactics, stating: “The target must know that they have a lot to lose if they do not cooperate, and that is how they are caught in the snares of Israeli intelligence. Often, when the target is a senior officer in the Syrian army, or an Iranian nuclear scientist, you lead them into a trap to the point where they commit an act that can be described as treason. Once caught in the trap, you exploit them until the last moment, threatening to expose their betrayal.”
“Schemes” is the key slogan used by the Mossad: “Wars are Made with Schemes,” which Cohen chose as the title of his book in Hebrew (the book’s name is different in English: “Sword of Freedom: Israel’s Mossad and the Secret War”). He says his role model is Kalan, the protagonist of the British “Kalan” series, and that “Kalan” became one of the cover identities he used in his operations.
Israel in the World
Cohen says the Mossad monitors developments everywhere that directly or indirectly affect Israel, with a particular focus on Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, as well as affiliated militant groups. He also identifies climate change as a potentially catastrophic threat to humanity that deserves greater attention from intelligence agencies, noting his continued personal interest in the issue even after leaving his post.
International cooperation in intelligence matters is considered a crucial project for the Mossad. He recounts how he developed relationships with intelligence agencies worldwide, beginning in 2016 when ISIS carried out terrorist attacks in Belgium. On the same day as the attack, Cohen received a warning about the operations, but it came too late to prevent them. He immediately contacted his Belgian counterpart, sharing additional information that aided the investigation. Later that year, he alerted Australia to a plot to bomb a civilian airliner on the Abu Dhabi-Sydney route, leading to the disruption of the cell and the seizure of weapons and explosives.
Cohen lists numerous countries that he credits the Mossad with assisting by uncovering terrorist operations and cells, quoting colleagues from German, British, French, and German intelligence agencies who expressed their gratitude for the information provided. Israel, he adds, also benefited from this intelligence sharing.
Turkey is no exception, and despite strained relations, Cohen did not hesitate to share information about terrorist cells operating within its borders. “In the summer of 2018, Israel helped Turkey uncover information about cells that carried out 16 attacks, despite the poor relations between the two countries.” He noted that the head of Turkish intelligence at the time was Hakan Fidan, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“A Strong Leader Makes Concessions”
Cohen clearly attempts to portray the Mossad in a positive light throughout the book, but ultimately focuses more on his own accomplishments, a natural inclination given the book’s focus on his career. Critics might argue his goal is to position himself for a future run for prime minister, attempting to address every question Israelis and others might have to convince them he is the best candidate for the job, particularly during these turbulent times. He navigates a sea of viewpoints to appease all sides, but primarily emphasizes quotes from admirers – Jews, Arabs, right-wingers, left-wingers, religious and secular individuals, Israelis, and foreigners.
To those who advocate for perpetual war, he points to the fact that after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, few believed a historic peace agreement with Egypt would be signed just five years later. He asserts, “A strong leader makes concessions,” and recounts weeping during the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab nations. He praises Arab leaders he met who demonstrated a genuine desire for peace, but maintains that peace requires demonstrating strength first.
