Yossi Cohen, The Sword of Freedom

The 34^th Edition of the Book Festival of the MJCCA Presents

Yossi Cohen, The Sword of Freedom: Israel, Mossad, and the Secret War

In conversation with Bill Nigut, Former Political Commentator, WABE and AJC

Author Talk, Q & A & Book Signing

Presented by Greenberg Traurig

In The Sword of Freedom, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen pulls back the curtain on Israel’s success in the face of never-ending war. Cohen has played a pivotal role in shaping Israel’s modern defense strategy. Blending personal stories and the nation’s history, he offers a rare glimpse into how Israel has defied existential threats and built a cutting-edge defense system. Now, he reveals how Israel always finds a way to win, as well as: the secret to Israel’s success as a nation and military power; the future of Gaza and Hamas; what it takes to be in the Mossad; the mistakes Westerners make when they look at the Middle East; how Mossad helps counter terrorism around the world; how the art of spycraft has changed in the advent of AI and social media; and what Donald Trump’s second presidency means for Israel

In today’s volatile world, Israel must remain adaptable and resolute to survive. Cohen explores how Israel achieves this: by questioning all intelligence, prioritizing human ingenuity, cooperating with other countries (even ones you might not expect), and ensuring enemies fear defeat before battles begin.

As David Ben-Gurion observed, “History is not written, it is created.” From thrilling covert operations to strategies that safeguard borders, The Sword of Free­dom demonstrates how Israel’s transformation from a vulnerable state to a global power was no accident.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yossi Cohen served as the director of the Mossad from 2016 until 2021. As director, he personally orchestrated some of the Mossad’s most daring operations, such as the seizure of the Iranian nuclear archives—the exposure of which was among the main factors behind the United States’ withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal—and clandestine activity all over the world. In 2020, Cohen led the negotiations between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain. His unique work with these countries, and the important connections he forged with them, played an important role in the signing of the groundbreaking Abraham Accords. He is now the head of SoftBank Investment Advisers in Israel. Cohen and his wife, Aya, live in Israel, and are blessed with four children and eight grandchildren.

Additional books will be available for purchase on the evening of the event from our partner bookseller, A Cappella Books!

All sales are final. Tickets and books are non-refundable.