Shin Bet Leaders Criticize Chief Zini Over Removal of October 7 Memorial

Shin Bet Chief David Zini has sparked controversy within the agency after ordering the dismantling of a memorial dedicated to the victims of the October 7 attacks, located at the entrance to the Shin Bet headquarters in Tel Aviv. The memorial had been established to honor fallen Shin Bet personnel since the October 7 incident.

Three senior Shin Bet officials, currently serving in a reserve capacity, have expressed strong opposition to Zini's decision. They plan to confront him in the coming days, stating that they "cannot continue as if nothing happened," emphasizing that their primary motivation to return to service was the events of October 7 and the desire to rebuild the organization.

According to reports, Zini justified the removal by saying it was unnecessary to be reminded of the failure every day, with his circle describing the memorial as reflecting a sense of defeatism. The directive to dismantle the memorial reportedly shocked many within the Shin Bet headquarters. This internal dispute highlights tensions over how the agency is handling the aftermath of the October 7 attacks and its efforts to move forward.