President Herzog Affirms Israeli Security Forces' Loyalty to the Nation Amid Shin Bet Chief's Remarks

President Isaac Herzog responded to comments made by Shin Bet chief David Zini during a National Security College graduation ceremony on Wednesday. Herzog emphasized that Israel's security and law enforcement agencies are loyal not to any individual or political faction, but to the sovereign people of Israel, the Israeli legal system, and the values of a Jewish and democratic state. This statement followed the release of recordings in which Zini said he accepted the Shin Bet leadership role because he believed he was more capable than others of being loyal to the elected government, regardless of political views.

At the same event, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir highlighted the urgent need to significantly expand the Israel Defense Forces to meet all operational demands. Zamir addressed the ongoing legislative efforts to grant Torah scholars a status equivalent to that of military conscripts, stressing that national defense is a collective responsibility. He called military service a vital operational necessity and a moral and Zionist duty.

The event also touched on concerns about changes in Shin Bet's spokesperson practices under Zini and whether dissenting voices can still oppose Prime Minister Netanyahu in closed settings. The discussion reflects broader tensions amid legislative and security developments in Israel.