Committee Approves Netanyahu’s Nominee David Zini as Shin Bet Head Despite Fierce Opposition

The Committee for Senior Civil Service Appointments on Thursday approved the nomination of Major General David Zini to serve as the next head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), despite sharp criticism from within Israel’s security establishment and concerns about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s role in the appointment process.

The committee, chaired by former Supreme Court President Asher Grunis, concluded unanimously that Zini possesses the “moral integrity” required for the role. However, its opinion included a pointed warning:

“It should be expected that if Zini is appointed, he will understand and know that subordination to the prime minister does not justify actions inconsistent with the rules of a democratic regime.”

The appointment must now be approved by the government, though the vote is likely to be delayed due to Netanyahu’s trip to the United States. Legal experts anticipate petitions against the appointment will be filed with the High Court of Justice, though Justice Ministry officials told Haaretz that the court is unlikely to intervene given the committee’s unanimous approval.

Criticism of Netanyahu’s Conduct

The Grunis Committee also leveled sharp criticism at Netanyahu, confirming reports that he offered Zini the position informally at the Tse’elim military base — without consulting the IDF Chief of Staff, contrary to established norms.

“The material indicates that there were indeed cases in which the prime minister asked the heads of the service to carry out actions that were inappropriate in a democratic regime,” the committee wrote.

Zini later informed Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who ultimately ended his IDF service after the appointment was agreed upon with Netanyahu.

Opposition From Former Shin Bet Chiefs

The approval comes despite unprecedented opposition from four former Shin Bet heads — Carmi Gillon, Nadav Argaman, Ami Ayalon, and Yoram Cohen — all of whom warned that Zini’s appointment could compromise the agency’s independence and public trust.

• Yoram Cohen told the committee that Netanyahu had previously made “problematic requests,” including an unfounded 2014 demand to revoke Naftali Bennett’s security clearance.

• Argaman cited Netanyahu’s alleged attempts to smear Benny Gantz as “blackmailed” by Iran and urged the committee to consider Netanyahu’s personal conflicts of interest, including his ties to donors connected with Zini’s family.

• Ami Ayalon warned that Zini’s reported statements referring to Israel’s judiciary as a “dictatorship” were “in complete contradiction to the law and the organizational culture of the Shin Bet.”

• Carmi Gillon said the appointment could lead to “the dissolution of the Shin Bet and severe harm to state security.”

A Divisive Appointment

The committee examined Zini’s military record and found no negative indications in his personal file. Zini himself denied ever saying that subordination to the prime minister overrides the law, insisting that “the head of the service is subordinate to the Prime Minister, but the Prime Minister is subordinate to the law.”

However, the panel noted that he had made controversial remarks in the past, including suggesting that Israel’s judicial system constitutes a “dictatorship.”

Former IDF chiefs Dan Halutz and Moshe Ya’alon, alongside retired generals Guy Tzur and Amos Malka, also voiced opposition, citing flaws in the appointment process and Netanyahu’s conflicts of interest.

Next Steps

With the Grunis Committee’s approval, the government is expected to formally consider Zini’s appointment in the coming weeks. Still, the controversy surrounding the decision — and the likelihood of petitions to the High Court — means the battle over who will lead the Shin Bet is far from over.