Supreme Court President Urges Shin Bet Chief to Drop Bid to Unmask Petitioners

During a court hearing on Sunday, Supreme Court President Isaac Amit advised Shin Bet Director David Zini to reconsider his demand to reveal the identities of former agency members who petitioned against his appointment. "The head of the service would do well to reconsider his position, I am not sure it is doing him any good," Amit stated, suggesting Zini waive his right to know the petitioners' names, despite a High Court ruling that he is entitled to them.

The hearing concerned a contempt of court petition filed by Zini after the former Shin Bet employees refused to comply with the High Court's decision to disclose their identities. Zini's appointment as Shin Bet chief proceeded after 180 former agency members' petitions against it were dismissed. Following the ruling, Zini requested the court unmask the anonymous petitioners, a request the High Court granted, affirming his right to access the list.

However, the former Shin Bet employees did not comply with the court's order. Zini's legal representative, Adv. Yaakov Karam, subsequently filed the contempt petition. The petitioners' lawyer, Adv. Eitan Peleg, argued that since the court had not issued an explicit "order to act" compelling disclosure, his clients were not in violation.

Karam countered that the High Court's decision was clear and urged the judges to issue an unambiguous directive. Despite the legal precedent supporting Zini's right to disclosure, President Amit implored Zini's counsel to let the Shin Bet chief forgo his rights in this instance. Zini's representative, however, maintained that they would insist on Zini's rights and the enforcement of the High Court's decision.