The Senior Appointments Advisory Committee on Thursday approved the candidacy of former IDF general David Zini as the next director of the Shin Bet, effectively guaranteeing his appointment to the position.
With the committee’s approval, the cabinet can now vote to appoint Zini, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pick for the role, to the post.
A six-page letter from the panel, signed by retired Supreme Court president and committee chairman Asher Grunis and two senior committee members and published on Thursday evening, explained that there was no disqualifying conflict of interest in Zini’s appointment.
The committee rejected the claim that Netanyahu was barred from proposing a candidate because the Shin Bet was actively investigating his advisers for their ties to Qatar.
It also found that although Netanyahu’s offering of the position to Zini in his car without first consulting the IDF chief of staff was a violation of custom, it did not constitute “a breach of integrity.”
Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition
by email and never miss our top stories
By signing up, you agree to the terms
The committee acknowledged that there were cases in which Netanyahu “asked candidates for the Shin Bet role to carry out actions not befitting a democratic system of government.” However, said the committee, the authority to propose a candidate rests with the prime minister.
“The committee unanimously found no ethical or conflict-of-interest barrier to appointing Maj. Gen. (res.) David Zini as head of the Shin Bet and confirmed that the prime minister is legally entitled to propose him,” concluded the committee.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and IDF Maj. Gen. David Zini at the Tzeelim training base in southern Israel, May 8, 2025. (GPO)
The committee also rejected claims that past controversial statements by Zini and his family members rendered him unqualified for the position.
These comments included remarks by Zini’s father, Rabbi Yosef Zini, who could be heard saying he hoped the High Court of Justice would “blow up” in recordings published by Channel 13 earlier this month.
Ynet reported on Thursday night that the Southern District Police requested permission to investigate the rabbi on suspicion of making threats. The final decision on whether to launch an investigation will be made by the chief of the Israel Police Investigations and Intelligence Department, Boaz Blatt, and the prosecutor’s office.
According to the report, police officers showed up at Yosef Zini’s home on Thursday evening to inform him of the investigation, but at the last minute it was decided not to bring him in for questioning yet.
The approval of the controversial nominee comes after four former Shin Bet chiefs filed objections to the appointments panel, warning that he was not fit to lead the internal security agency.
The four ex-chiefs — Nadav Argaman, Ami Ayalon, Yoram Cohen and Carmi Gillon — all submitted separate letters to the committee last week, warning against Zini’s appointment, citing concern that Zini would be overly influenced by his close connection with Netanyahu and that his “extreme worldview” would disintegrate the Shin Bet from within.
(Top L) Nadav Argaman at the Knesset, November 6, 2018 (Hadas Parush/Flash90) and (Top R) Ami Ayalon on March 27, 2023 (Tomer Neuberg/FLASH90) and (Bottom L) Yoram Cohen in Jerusalem, April 8, 2025 (Chaim Goldberg/FLASH90) and (Bottom R) Carmi Gillon in Jerusalem, December 31, 2019 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Gillon averred that Zini’s positions, based on his own writings and public statements, “are based on an extreme worldview far beyond the social and political consensus upon which the State of Israel was founded and its laws were enacted.”
Zini is a controversial figure with self-described “messianic” views. He has also reportedly said during private discussions with former senior security officials that “the judicial system is a dictatorship that rules the State of Israel.”
According to some reports, several officials in the Shin Bet have threatened to resign if Zini takes over the agency.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir congratulated Zini on Thursday evening following the panel’s statement, the military said.
In a call with Zini, Zamir said he was “confident that Zini will bring his personal abilities, leadership and the experience he has gained as a combat commander in the IDF also to Shin Bet,” according to an IDF readout.
Maj. Gen. David Zini speaks at a ceremony at the Aliqa base in the Golan Heights, June 4, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
Additionally, Zamir noted that “the cooperation between the organizations is critical to the security of the state and that the IDF, and he personally, will stand behind him as much as necessary for him to succeed in his position.”
Zini also thanked Zamir for the years of service in the IDF under his command, the military said, adding that the pair agreed to meet soon. Zini had been dismissed from the military by Zamir for holding talks regarding the Shin Bet chief role with Netanyahu behind his back.
On Friday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said he also spoke with Zini to congratulate him.
“The IDF has lost an outstanding major general, and the Shin Bet has gained an excellent leader, who I am convinced, together with the exceptional people within it, will know how to navigate this highly important organization with talent and strength during the challenging period we are in,” Katz said. “We agreed to work together for the security of the State of Israel.”
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
Is The Times of Israel important to you?
If so, we have a request.
Every day, even during war, our journalists keep you abreast of the most important developments that merit your attention. Millions of people rely on ToI for fast, fair and free coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
We care about Israel – and we know you do too. So today, we have an ask: show your appreciation for our work by joining The Times of Israel Community, an exclusive group for readers like you who appreciate and financially support our work.
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You appreciate our journalism
You clearly find our careful reporting valuable, in a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context.
Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically since October 7.
So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you’ll become our partners while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel