Shin Bet Chief Reverses Stance and Orders Probe into Leak of Operation Roar of the Lion

Shin Bet Chief David Zini recently faced public and political controversy after reversing his position on investigating the leak of information about the timing of Operation "Roar of the Lion." Initially, during cabinet discussions, Zini opposed opening an investigation, arguing there was no professional or legal justification since thousands of people had access to the information and the chances of identifying the source were minimal. He also cited legal restrictions on investigating journalists without approval from the Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara.

However, following persistent demands from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and completion of internal legal procedures within Shin Bet, Zini decided to initiate a probe into the leak. The Prime Minister's Office had earlier requested the Shin Bet to investigate the leak that allegedly allowed Channel 12 to prepare in advance for the operation's launch. Ministers such as Miri Regev also called for an investigation into Channel 12, despite the journalists not violating censorship laws or revealing the operation prematurely.

Zini’s reversal came after a meeting on June 22 with Yaakov Bardugo, a Channel 14 figure close to Netanyahu, where Zini reportedly pushed to open the investigation. Shin Bet issued an unusual statement denying that this meeting influenced the decision, asserting that the decision to investigate was made well before the meeting. The statement emphasized that leak investigations are conducted following professional and legal advice to prevent breaches in the defense system.

This episode adds to recent tensions surrounding Zini, who previously declared loyalty to the elected leadership amid disputes over the status of the Attorney General. The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on the matter.