Oct 3, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Boris Johnson suggests Netanyahu may have bugged his bathroom

Rebecca Falconer

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at 10 Downing Street on September 5, 2019 in London, England. — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street in London, England, in 2019. Photo: Alastair Grant - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Boris Johnson claims that his staff found a bug in his bathroom after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used it during a visit to the British Foreign Office in 2017.

The big picture: The former U.K. prime minister was foreign secretary at the time of the incident, according to the extract from his book, "Unleashed," which was shared with the Telegraph newspaper.

What they're saying: "Thither Bibi repaired for a while, and it may or may not be a coincidence but I am told that later, when they were doing a regular sweep for bugs, they found a listening device in the thunderbox," wrote Johnson, using a British word to describe a toilet.

When The Telegraph asked Johnson for more details, the former Conservative Party leader replied: "I think everything you need to know about that episode is in the book."
Representatives for the Israeli Embassy in London did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Zoom out: The Telegraph noted that it was unclear whether the matter was taken further with Israeli officials, but there had been similar reports around that time accusing Israel of bugging the White House.

Netanyahu in 2019 denied a report that Israel planted devices near the Trump White House and said Israeli officials had not spied on the U.S.

Go deeper: How it all fell apart for Boris Johnson

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Boris Johnson suggests Netanyahu may have bugged his bathroom

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