Eyal Cohen, a leading candidate to succeed Ronen Bar as head of the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet), supports the occupation of Gaza and the suspension of humanitarian aid to the territory.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11) reported that Cohen, the potential next head of the Shin Bet security service and a former head of a department in the Mossad, supports the occupation of the Gaza Strip and the cessation of humanitarian aid. This came during his presentation of his views on the organization's roles in recent weeks.

Cohen also supports increased military pressure and believes that the Shin Bet "should not interfere in the affairs of a democratic system," which may appear to be in line with views previously expressed by the Israeli Prime Minister when attacking Shin Bet chief Bar.

The report noted that Cohen's positions come "against the backdrop of accusations that the outgoing Shin Bet chief exceeded his authority and exploited his position and the agency's resources."

On Wednesday, Netanyahu began interviewing candidates to head the Shin Bet security service, following the Supreme Court's decision to reject the attorney general's request to suspend the appointment process.

This came after the Supreme Court rejected Netanyahu's request to overturn the court's injunction freezing the dismissal of current Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar until the petitions filed in this regard are adjudicated. However, the court allowed him to interview candidates for the position.

Judge Gila Kanfi-Steinitz's decision also contradicted the position of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who had also demanded that the process of replacing Bar and appointing a new head of the agency be frozen until the Supreme Court considers the petitions filed against his dismissal.