Shin Bet Allegedly Monitors Phones of Journalists Critical of Netanyahu, Report Reveals

On July 10, 2026, journalist Ronen Bergman disclosed on Channel 12's Friday Studio that the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has been collecting data from the phones of journalists critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and their circles. This surveillance reportedly began only after David Zini assumed the role of Shin Bet chief. Bergman revealed that since Zini's appointment, Netanyahu has frequently filed complaints about leaks, demanding investigations, including one concerning a purported leak to Channel 12 about the timing of a joint US-Israel operation against Iran on February 28, 2026.

If accurate, and with no denial from Shin Bet so far, this revelation is explosive, raising serious concerns for journalists covering politics, government, military, and security, as well as for Israeli citizens. While journalists are not above the law, their ability to work depends on protecting their sources and information. Monitoring their movements, locations, and calls risks exposing these sources and undermining journalistic work.

Bergman noted that Shin Bet's collection of raw metadata from all Israeli phones has been known for years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when authorities sought to use this data to break infection chains. At that time, journalists' organizations petitioned the Supreme Court to prevent Shin Bet from using this tool against journalists without consent, leading to a court ban except for pandemic-related purposes with informed consent. However, this current use appears to lack such consent and is unrelated to public health.

While intelligence agencies worldwide, including Shin Bet, employ various legal and borderline methods to gather intelligence on threats to national security, Bergman exposed a troubling escalation: using these tools politically to monitor journalists who do not align with Netanyahu's policies. Reports indicate that Zini initially rejected calls to investigate the alleged leak about the Iran operation, citing the large number of people aware of the secret (4,500), but later reversed his stance following pressure, including from Netanyahu's close advisor Yaakov Bardugo.

This raises critical questions about whether Shin Bet is surveilling journalists' communications and movements, marking those critical of Netanyahu, and whether the prime minister is receiving detailed intelligence on these journalists. The potential politicization of Shin Bet's intelligence capabilities poses significant implications for press freedom and democratic governance in Israel.