Movement for Quality Government Demands Criminal Probe into Shin Bet Chief David Zini

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel has formally requested a criminal investigation into Shin Bet chief David Zini. The organization addressed the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, State Attorney Amit Aisman, Police Commissioner Major General Danni Levi, and the head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division, Commissioner Boaz Balat, urging them to examine suspicions of breach of trust and possibly other offenses. This demand follows Zini's meeting with Yaakov Bardugo and subsequent developments related to the decision to pursue an investigation against Channel 12.

According to the Movement, Bardugo, described as a commentator and activist close to Prime Minister Netanyahu, publicly called for an investigation into Channel 12 over allegations of leaking the timing of an attack in Iran. Bardugo reportedly met with Zini in his office, with only three people present, and the discussion focused on a single issue. After the meeting, Zini initially told ministers there was no point in opening an investigation but later changed his stance and requested the Attorney General to initiate one against Channel 12 and its journalists.

The Movement also alleges a conflict of interest, noting that another Shin Bet employee present at the meeting is a close relative of a senior journalist at Channel 14, a rival network. This potential conflict was reportedly not denied by the Shin Bet spokesperson. The Movement disputes the Shin Bet's claim that the decision to investigate was made before the meeting, pointing out inconsistencies with Zini's statements to ministers afterward.

Even if the meeting did not directly influence Zini's change of position, the Movement argues that a private, undocumented meeting with a politically connected individual who has commercial interests against a competing channel raises concerns about the integrity of the Shin Bet and risks compromising the investigation into the leak before it even began. Yaniv Goldberg, head of the Movement's economic division, emphasized that the law requires the Shin Bet to operate impartially and forbids it from advancing political interests. He warned that such incidents echo past scandals and insisted that only a criminal investigation can uncover the truth. Goldberg stated, "The Shin Bet belongs to the citizens of Israel, and protecting its impartiality is protecting democracy itself."