Shin Bet succession battle deepens political divisions in Israel

The decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to push for the appointment of David Zini as the head of Israel’s domestic security agency (Shin Bet) has triggered a fresh internal storm in the occupied territories.

According to Hebrew media, more than 260 Israeli officials and former Shin Bet directors, in a letter addressed to the special committee for approving senior appointments, warned that “this appointment could cause serious damage to Israel.”

The signatories emphasized: “Zini’s explicit positions regarding the judiciary, coupled with his willingness to assume the post despite the legal restrictions imposed on Netanyahu, along with his personal ties to the prime minister, pose a direct threat to the principle of this agency’s independence and its adherence to the law.”

They further stressed in their letter that yielding to Netanyahu’s decisions at the cost of disregarding the Supreme Court or bypassing the attorney general’s oversight would undermine the fragile foundations of ‘Israeli democracy.’ They reminded that the Shin Bet chief must pledge loyalty to the people and state institutions, not to individuals or political parties.

In response to this warning, Netanyahu immediately urged the appointments committee to approve the nomination, arguing that “given the urgent need for a permanent Shin Bet chief, with the interim chief’s term expiring on September 21, this matter must be finalized.”

Justifying his choice of Zini, Netanyahu stated: “The consequences of the October 7, 2023 attack make it necessary to appoint a new chief from outside the agency.”

The uproar in the occupied territories over Zini’s nomination reflects the depth of divisions within Israel’s institutions. Opponents argue that this is not merely an administrative issue but a dangerous attempt by Netanyahu to impose political hegemony over one of Israel’s most sensitive and influential security bodies.