Mossad has a top-notch PR advisor. We’re not allowed to tell you her name

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Mossad chief David Barnea is continuing a practice that began under his predecessor, Yossi Cohen, of receiving consulting services from a well-known media adviser. The military censor has banned publication of the adviser’s name.

She has been employed by the Mossad since the beginning of the year and her salary is paid out of the agency’s budget. The fact that the spy agency hired a media adviser has never been made public in any relevant government database.

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Last week, journalist Ben Caspit sought to publish an article on the employment of the media adviser in the Maariv newspaper, but the article was spiked by the military censor. The censor explained that Iran wants to hurt anyone connected to the Mossad, and that publishing the name of the adviser, who often travels abroad, would endanger her.

Cohen, Barnea’s predecessor, was linked to a number of scandals, including one over his ties with Australian billionaire James Packer. Haaretz broke the story that he had received $20,000 in cash from Packer. After his departure, Cohen said that had been “an innocent mistake.” Even after Cohen’s term ended, the adviser continued to help him deal with the media.

The Mossad does not have an official spokesperson and makes use of the services of the Prime Minister’s Office to answer queries or release the small amount of information it publishes, when necessary. Cohen frequently spoke with reporters during his tenure, and recent years have seen the publication in Israel and abroad of many details about Mossad operations.

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Barnea vowed not to adopt this behavior, and would restore the agency’s policy of total secrecy. In practice, he increased the media adviser’s work hours. She discusses matters involving him with media outlets.