Netanyahu appoints outsider to head Shin Bet in open defiance of attorney general

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a new director of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, defying explicit legal guidance from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and intensifying an ongoing political and legal conflict over the forced departure of the current agency head.

The appointment of Major General David Zini, announced on May 22, comes just one day after the Supreme Court ruled that Netanyahu’s attempt to dismiss outgoing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar had been procedurally flawed and tainted by conflicts of interest, Caliber.Az reports, referencing foreign media.

Zini, 51, currently heads the Israeli Defence Forces’ Training Command and the General Staff Corps. Although a decorated military officer with over three decades of experience, his selection breaks with the tradition of appointing Shin Bet leaders from within the agency.

Bar had announced last month that he would step down in mid-June following Netanyahu’s efforts to remove him. Bar has played a central role in Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas and has led the team negotiating the release of hostages in Gaza. Tensions between him and Netanyahu escalated over responsibility for the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault, considered the gravest intelligence failure in Israel's history.

Netanyahu's decision to install Zini despite the court ruling and against legal advice drew immediate condemnation. The Attorney General’s office issued a statement on May 22 saying the prime minister “acted contrary to legal guidance” and raised “serious concern” over a conflict of interest in the appointment process.

The Shin Bet is currently investigating several of Netanyahu’s top advisers for alleged financial misconduct linked to Qatar, adding further complexity to the power struggle. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing.

Critics, including opposition leader Yair Lapid, accused Netanyahu of seeking to tighten his grip over Israel’s powerful security apparatus as part of a broader campaign to consolidate executive power and weaken judicial and institutional checks. Lapid urged Zini to decline the position until the Supreme Court can review the legality of the appointment.

Legal watchdog organisations announced plans to appeal the decision, potentially setting up yet another courtroom clash.

Zini’s appointment also sparked fresh public protests in Tel Aviv on the night of May 22. Initially organised to demand an end to the Gaza war and the return of hostages, demonstrators redirected their anger at what they view as a politicised and legally dubious reshuffling of the country’s top intelligence post.

The Attorney General herself is facing mounting pressure and efforts to remove her, a move critics see as further evidence of the Netanyahu government’s attempt to undermine the judiciary.

By Tamilla Hasanova