President Herzog Sets Red Line on Security Forces Loyalty Amid Shin Bet Appointment Controversy

Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the graduation ceremony of the National Security College on June 8, 2026, emphasizing that Israel's security and law enforcement agencies owe their allegiance to the state and its citizens, not to any individual or political faction. Herzog stated, "The security and enforcement bodies in Israel are loyal to the sovereign, the people of Israel, the Israeli legal code, and the values of the Jewish and democratic state." His remarks followed the release of recordings featuring David Zini explaining his acceptance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's offer to become head of the Shin Bet, where Zini said he felt uniquely capable of being loyal to the elected leadership regardless of political views.

At the same event, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir spoke about the ongoing security challenges Israel faces, highlighting the need to expand the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) amid legislative efforts to equalize the status of Torah scholars with that of soldiers. Zamir stressed, "We must significantly increase IDF ranks to fulfill all assigned missions," calling military service a "strategic, Zionist, and moral obligation."

Zamir also reflected on the heavy toll of the October 7 massacre and the subsequent thousand days of conflict, describing these events as both a wound and a guiding compass for operational conduct. He urged learning from past failures to improve and grow. Praising the graduating commanders for their unprecedented operational experience, Zamir noted, "You arrived at the classroom with the dust of battle still on your boots."

Despite recent operational successes against Israel's enemies, Zamir cautioned that the conflict continues, stating, "Even if a new chapter opens, the campaign continues and is only changing form. We will persist with determination, initiative, operational cunning, and offensives."