Israeli civil rights groups have appealed to the Shin Bet security service to immediately stop monitoring journalists and their sources, following reports that the agency has been using phone metadata to investigate leaks, The Seventh Eye reported Wednesday.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel and I’lam Media Center submitted the appeal after Yedioth Ahronoth and New York Times journalist Ronen Bergman reported that the Shin Bet had been using phone metadata to identify journalists’ sources.
“The Shin Bet collects what it calls ‘non-substantive information’ – information of no intelligence value – all of our phones’ metadata, all the time,” Bergman said on Channel 12.
According to Bergman, the agency has used that data to investigate alleged leaks, including by examining journalists’ contacts. He also alleged that the investigations began once David Zini took over as Shin Bet chief and had not occurred under his predecessor.
Close
A cell tower in the Israeli settlement of Beit El in the central West Bank, in 2023. Credit: Emil Salman
A cell tower in the Israeli settlement of Beit El in the central West Bank, in 2023. Credit: Emil Salman
In a letter dated Tuesday and reported by The Seventh Eye, the rights groups said the reported surveillance “points to extremely serious conduct that undermines freedom of expression and press freedom, and erodes the foundations of Israeli democracy.”
Related Articles
The groups warned that without the protection of journalistic confidentiality, “many sources would refrain from providing relevant information for fear of harm to their reputation, privacy, right to anonymity, livelihood, property, or even their physical safety and lives.”
They added that the allegations were “all the more serious” ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections, arguing that “robust, investigative journalism” is essential to enabling voters to make informed decisions.
Close
Shin Bet Chief David Zini, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg, Credit: Chaim Tzach/GPO
Shin Bet Chief David Zini, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg, Credit: Chaim Tzach/GPO
The letter also accused the government of “insulating itself from political change by silencing opposition voices.”
Last week, Zini said he had been appointed Shin Bet chief because he is loyal to Israel’s elected officials.
“I have an agenda. I want to advance it. That’s my responsibility, that’s my role,” Zini said. “On the other hand, I must be humble toward elected officials. I can be the last car on the train in a second; just tell me where we’re going.”
Haaretz PodcastRep. Ro Khanna to Haaretz: ‘I’m more disturbed by Israel’s lies’ than being detained in West Bank
play
Haaretz Podcast
Rep. Ro Khanna to Haaretz: ‘I’m more disturbed by Israel’s lies’ than being detained in West Bank
Volume: 0.5
X1
total– : –time0:00
fast forward15
play
rewind15
He also dismissed considering human rights in legal proceedings as “nonsense” and criticized lawyers who, he said, elevate human rights over security considerations.
Following criticism of his remarks, Zini met with Central Elections Committee Chairman and Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg and President Isaac Herzog, where he pledged that the Shin Bet would operate under the committee’s authority to help safeguard the integrity of Israel’s elections.
Chen Maanit, Jonathan Lis, Josh Breiner and Yossi Verter contributed to this report.