Shin Bet chief David Zini has ordered the agency’s annual Pride Month event canceled, blocked related preparations, and effectively shut down the organization’s LGBT unit, according to a report published Tuesday evening, June 23, 2026. The decision, described by insiders as unprecedented, has sparked major unrest inside the security service.
For years, the Shin Bet has held a Pride Month lecture for employees who wanted to attend. This year, organizers were already well advanced in their planning when they were suddenly told the event was off. People familiar with the matter told N12 that the explanation given was that “an order came from above,” referring directly to Zini, who refused to approve the event and gave no clear reason.
The new instructions reportedly included blanket rejections of multiple requests from the unit, including a banner on a Shin Bet screen, a Pride-themed screensaver, Pride flags in the event hall, dedicated stickers, and use of agency systems to distribute content. Zini also instructed the head of human resources to move all money earmarked for LGBT issues into the agency’s general budget, leaving the Pride budget at zero shekels.
Employees and LGBT rights activists called the move a severe rollback of equality and inclusion. Critics said it reverses progress the Shin Bet had made in recent years and stands out because similar LGBT units operate in the Mossad and in most political parties. The decision comes amid broader reports of LGBTphobia and ahead of a July 12 conference on equality laws. The Shin Bet declined to comment.
