Bibi Appoints Yoram Cohen as Israel’s Next Shin Bet Chief

By Haaretz Service March 28, 2011

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that he has appointed Yoram Cohen as the next chief of Israel’s general security services, the Shin Bet.

Cohen will replace Yuval Diskin, whose six-year term ends on May 15. Cohen is the first observant Jew to fill the position.

A former deputy Shin Bet chief, Cohen was considered to be a leading candidate to replace Diskin. He is expected to enter the position pending approval of the Turkel Committee, charged with authorizing such appointments.

Cohen was born in Israel and completed his Israel Defense Forces services in the Golani Brigade, while participating in a joint hesder yeshiva program. He joined the Shin Bet 30 years ago and has served in a wide range of commanding and staff positions in Israel’s security services.

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