Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed Major General David Zini, a senior military officer, as the new head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, despite immediate criticism from the Attorney General. Gali Baharav-Miara warned that the appointment was made despite legal advice indicating a conflict of interest and suggested it was flawed due to Netanyahu’s ongoing legal issues and involvement in investigations related to the “Qatar-Gate” affair.
The appointment follows a Supreme Court ruling that found Netanyahu’s removal of previous Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar was unlawful, influenced by conflicts of interest linked to ongoing probes into Netanyahu’s associates. Bar had called for an inquiry into Israel’s security services’ handling of the Hamas attack in October 2023 and plans to step down in June.
The decision to appoint Zini, who has a long military background including elite units, comes after more than two months of political and legal disputes over the agency’s leadership. Netanyahu previously claimed he dismissed Bar due to a “lack of trust,” a move challenged in court by opposition and civil society groups, who have accused it of undermining democratic norms.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Zini to refrain from accepting the position until the Supreme Court rules on the legality of the appointment. The NGO Movement for Quality Government announced plans to file a legal challenge against what it sees as an invalid move, emphasizing the importance of respecting the rule of law.
Bar, who indicated his departure was related to investigations into Hamas’s attack and other serious issues, remains in the process of stepping down. Meanwhile, far-right Minister Itamar Ben Gvir defended the appointment, stating that only the Prime Minister has the authority to choose the Shin Bet head and that Netanyahu’s choice of Zini is appropriate.