Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced the appointment of Maj. Gen. David Zini as the new head of the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic intelligence service, following a public disagreement with the previous director, Ronen Bar. This decision comes amid ongoing legal challenges regarding Bar's dismissal.
Maj. Gen. Zini, who has held various operational and command roles in the Israeli military, will lead the Shin Bet as Netanyahu’s first step in a process that may be complicated. Bar was dismissed in March and officially resigned last month while his termination was under review by Israel’s highest court, which noted significant flaws in the dismissal process.
The court's ruling raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, particularly as Bar was removed during an investigation of Netanyahu's aides related to alleged misconduct involving Qatar. Israel's Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, criticized Zini's appointment, asserting that Netanyahu ignored legal advice to refrain from selecting a new Shin Bet chief until the matter was clarified.
Baharav-Miara has contended that Netanyahu improperly terminated Bar and has indicated that the prime minister should not proceed with Zini's appointment until outstanding questions regarding the dismissal and conflicts of interest are addressed. In March, the Israeli cabinet initiated steps to dismiss the attorney general.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Zini not to accept the position until the high court evaluates the situation. Netanyahu expressed a loss of confidence in Bar, citing failures to prevent the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which he attributed to Bar's leadership.
Zini had previously prepared a report for the Israeli military's Gaza division, highlighting vulnerabilities in military preparedness for unexpected attacks. The Shin Bet later acknowledged its failure to recognize signs of an impending Hamas assault, attributing part of the blame to government policies that permitted Hamas to strengthen its military capabilities.
The timeline for Zini's official takeover of the Shin Bet remains uncertain, as a committee led by a retired Supreme Court chief justice must approve the appointment, and the committee currently lacks several members, delaying discussions.
Furthermore, the attorney general's objections indicate that Netanyahu may encounter additional legal challenges regarding this appointment.
General Zini previously faced significant public scrutiny in January when he was attacked and pursued in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak while managing a contentious military recruitment effort involving members of that community.