Ex-Israeli Mossad chief 'gave flight attendant classified info': report

The ex-head of Israel's Mossad gave classified intelligence information to a flight attendant, Israeli broadcaster Channel 13 claimed this week.

The accusation was lodged to Israel's ministry of justice and Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit is looking into the matter, The Times of Israel reported on Monday.

The unnamed flight attendant enjoyed strong relations with Cohen over the past two years, the report claimed.

The former spy chief vehemently rejected the broadcasters' accusations.

He told Channel 13: "There is no flight attendant, there is no close relationship, the attorney general has not contacted me" regarding the accusation.

In July, the former intelligence official appeared to suggest during an interview with Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 that Mossad was responsible for an explosion that destroyed equipment at Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment plant. This was a rare public admission by the intelligence agency that it could have conducted a mission in Iran.

The Times of Israel, which described the Channel 12 interview as "the most revelatory ever given" by a former Mossad chief, said the comments were assumedly authorised by state censors.

Cohen was given the top job by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Although he is not presently considering a bid to become prime minister, Cohen had not ruled out political ambitions in the future.

The ex-intelligence leader was replaced by David Barnea after ending his tenure as Mossad director at the start of June.

Cohen was recently appointed to lead Saudi-tied venture capital firm SoftBank's new Israeli office, the Israeli Globes newspaper reported earlier this month.