Yinon Magal Foretells Iran War as Shin Bet Chief Faces Probe Pressure

A day before the launch of Israel's "Roaring Lion" operation against Iran in late February, Channel 14 presenter Yinon Magal posted a video clearly announcing the outbreak of war and warning Iranians of impending strikes. In the video, Magal urged viewers to prepare shelters and be ready, linking the timing to the Purim holiday and biblical themes, and expressing hope for a decisive Israeli victory.

Around three weeks ago, Channel 14 analyst Yaakov Bardugo, a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, revealed on "Galey Yisrael" radio that he met with Shin Bet chief David Zini to pressure him into opening an investigation against Channel 12. The probe was to examine allegations that a security source leaked information about the timing of the Iran strikes to Channel 12. Initially, Zini resisted the investigation and clashed with cabinet ministers but later reversed his stance and sought approval from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to proceed, following intense pressure from Netanyahu and his allies.

Last weekend, "Weekend News" disclosed that Netanyahu himself was behind the pressure campaign on Zini, supported by some government ministers. Bardugo had previously declared just two days before the June "With the Lion" operation that the attack was imminent, a behavior described by a senior security official as effectively serving as "the enemy's central warning system," since adversaries could deduce the operation's timing from his statements.

In response, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel petitioned the Attorney General, State Prosecutor Amit Isman, Police Commissioner Danni Levi, and the head of investigations, Boaz Balat, to open a criminal investigation against Shin Bet chief Zini for breach of trust and possibly other offenses. The petition highlighted the problematic nature of Bardugo's repeated public calls for an investigation against Channel 12, his meeting alone with Zini in the Shin Bet headquarters, and the presence of a Shin Bet employee related to a senior Channel 14 journalist, raising serious conflict of interest concerns. The Movement also questioned the Shin Bet's claim that the investigation decision predated the meeting, citing Zini's contradictory statements to ministers. Journalist Ronen Bergman reported that since Zini's appointment, the Shin Bet has increasingly used journalists' communication data at Netanyahu's request, possibly without proper legal oversight.