No Disciplinary Action Against Shin Bet Chief After Wife’s Controversial Letter to Employees’ Wives
The Israeli Civil Service Commission’s disciplinary division clarified to Shin Bet chief David Zini that his wife, Naomi Zini, should not have sent a letter to the wives of Shin Bet employees. However, it was decided that no disciplinary measures would be taken against David Zini. The commission noted that the letter was sent as part of a longstanding tradition emphasizing the organization’s support for employees’ families.
The letter, addressed exclusively to employees’ wives and excluding female employees themselves, sparked criticism. Former Shin Bet employee and lawyer Gonen Ben Yitzhak filed a complaint demanding an investigation against Zini, alleging misuse of the organization’s communication system for private purposes, which constitutes a disciplinary offense. Ben Yitzhak argued that Naomi Zini’s letter, sent around Passover, ignored female employees and improperly used Shin Bet’s resources to spread her personal views.
The complaint also highlighted that Naomi Zini encouraged some employees’ wives to contact her through the organization’s human resources system, raising concerns about unauthorized use of employee data. The Shin Bet responded that the letter was part of the organization’s engagement with employees’ families, including holiday greetings, and was distributed via WhatsApp rather than official Shin Bet email. However, some sources indicated the letter was sent through the official email system with instructions to forward it to wives and then delete it.
Deputy Senior Disciplinary Officer Yafit Itskovitz accepted Shin Bet’s explanation and decided against disciplinary action, while emphasizing that state employees are prohibited from using official government mailing systems for non-official purposes or sending holiday greetings on behalf of the government.
The letter itself praised the wives of employees as vital supporters in Israel’s security efforts but was criticized by the Shin Bet’s gender equality officer for excluding about 35% of female employees, including those who are unmarried, same-sex partners, or have different family structures. The officer also noted that the letter’s portrayal of women was outdated and did not reflect the diverse roles of women in 2026 Israel.
