Boris Johnson claims security found bugging devices after Netanyahu used his toilet

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has alleged that a bugging device was found in his personal bathroom at the Foreign Office following a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2017.

The claim is made in Johnson’s upcoming memoir, Unleashed, excerpts of which have been shared ahead of the book’s release.

According to Johnson, Netanyahu, during his visit to the Foreign Office, excused himself to use Johnson’s private bathroom. After the meeting, Johnson’s security team discovered a listening device during a routine sweep of the facilities.

While Johnson acknowledged that it could have been a coincidence, he hinted at a connection between Netanyahu’s visit and the discovery of the bugging equipment.

Johnson described the bathroom as being akin to “the gents in a posh London club,” located within a secret annexe of the Foreign Office. He writes, “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.”

When asked for further details in an interview with The Telegraph, Johnson stated, “I think everything you need to know about that episode is in the book.”

There has been no official response from Israel regarding these allegations. The timing of this claim coincides with past accusations against Israel, including reports of cellphone surveillance devices found near the White House in Washington around the same period.

In the past, US officials have also alleged that Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad was behind the placement of listening devices near the White House in 2018, aiming to eavesdrop on then-President Donald Trump. The accusation, reported by Politico, has been attributed to findings by the FBI, which identified Israel as the likely culprit.

According to the report, the surveillance devices—known as IMSI-catchers—were found in Washington, DC, near sensitive locations, including the White House. These gadgets are used to trick mobile phones into thinking they are connected to legitimate signal towers, allowing for the capture of call data and locations.

One US official told Politico that the devices were most likely intended to monitor Trump’s communications. At the time, Israel’s embassy in Washington denied the accusations, calling them “nonsense.”

These allegations recall similar accusations that have surfaced in past years, highlighting the complexities of intelligence operations between allied nations.

While Netanyahu has never worked in Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, he is known for close ties with the agency, which conducts foreign intelligence and covert operations globally.

During his 2017 visit, Johnson and Netanyahu shared moments of levity, with Johnson humorously showing Netanyahu what he claimed to be the walnut desk on which the Balfour Declaration was written. Johnson joked about having “the very pen” Balfour used, only to pull out a Bic biro.