Channel 14 previously quoted the premier as claiming it was a \u201ccriminal leak\u201d that jeopardized the success of the operation. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi also called in early March for a probe.<\/p>\n
\t In a statement Friday, the Shin Bet acknowledged that a meeting between Zini and Bardugo occurred, but said it played no role in the decision-making process.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout confirming the accuracy of one report or the other, let it be clear that investigations of classified leaks are opened according to the authority and decision of the Shin Bet chief, only after an orderly process involving professionals and the agency\u2019s legal advisers, and out of the Shin Bet\u2019s obligation to the law\u201d prohibiting security-related leaks, the statement said.<\/p>\n \u201cAny attempt to attribute the Shin Bet chief\u2019s professional decisions\u2026 to conversations with one source or another is completely baseless,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n The statement claimed that Zini decided to move forward with the probe before his meeting with Bardugo. Haaretz, however, said that assertion was false, reporting Bardugo met with Zini several weeks ago and that the Shin Bet chief voiced his opposition to the probe more recently than that.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, a lobbying group made up of IDF reservists called for a criminal investigation<\/a> into the pro-government Channel 14, accusing it of repeatedly publishing classified material that violated censorship rules, compromising operations and endangering security forces.<\/p>\n The Iron Swords Fighters Forum, led by IDF Col. (res.) Hanoch Daube \u2014 who battled the Hamas invasion on October 7 and later fought in Gaza \u2014 claimed that for more than two years, Channel 14 has systematically published sensitive security information, on some occasions even before the missions had been carried out.<\/p>\n Opposition urges AG to probe Zini-Bardugo meeting<\/p>\n Critics of the government decried the meeting and called on Baharav-Miara to investigate it.<\/p>\n MK Merav Ben Ari of Yesh Atid wrote on X: \u201cWhy would the Shin Bet chief meet with the businessman and pathological liar Bardugo? About what? To what purpose? He has free time to spare?\u201d<\/p>\n Democrats MK Efrat Reitan called on the attorney general to investigate, saying: \u201cThere is a suspicion of illicit influence on the Shin Bet chief. I will ask your urgent response and consideration of this matter.\u201d<\/p>\n The Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot \u2013 one of Netanyahu\u2019s chief rivals for the premiership in upcoming elections \u2013 said in a statement that \u201cZini owes the public explanations.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf a political agent or someone close to the powers-that-be succeeded in influencing decisions that touch on the exercise of any national security authorities \u2013 that is a severe incident. The public has a right to know who made requests, who put pressure, what was spoken of in the meeting, and why it took place,\u201d the party said.<\/p>\n \t Former prime minister Naftali Bennett \u2013 head of the Together party, and Netanyahu\u2019s other main rival to lead the state \u2013 said that if elected, \u201cAny public servant, in any job or government organization, who violated his duty of loyalty to the state and exploited his role for political, rather than statesmanlike purposes, will be dismissed immediately.\u201d Though the comment didn\u2019t mention Zini explicitly, it was interpreted in Israeli media as a reference to the affair.<\/p>\n The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, meanwhile, said in a statement: \u201cA private citizen, without an official role, without security clearance \u2013 an activist for a politically identified channel \u2013 entered the most sensitive office in the state to promote an investigation against his channel\u2019s competitor. And it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n The watchdog group demanded that Netanyahu, Zini, and Baharav-Miara \u201cconfirm the meeting took place\u201d and disclose \u201cwhen and where it occurred, and who participated in it \u2013 and whether there were any other meetings or conversations between the Shin Bet chief and Bardugo before or after.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt must be emphasized: The Shin Bet is indeed exempt from the Freedom of Information Law \u2013 but that exemption is meant to protect state secrets, not meetings with activists,\u201d the NGO noted. \u201cWhen one of the participants has already boasted about the meeting on air, there is no secret to protect.\u201d<\/p>\n Leon Kraiem contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi at the Knesset, Jerusalem, January 5, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel\/Flash90)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/F260709SL05-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tGadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party attends a conference in Haifa, July 9, 2026. (Sharon Leibel\/Flash90)<\/p>\n
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