Shin Bet Chief and Deputy Express Reservations Over Past Opinion Blocking Kahanist Party Registration

Shin Bet Chief David Zini and his deputy recently submitted a recommendation to Israel's Supreme Court expressing reservations about a previous Shin Bet legal opinion issued during Ronen Bar's tenure. That earlier opinion had prevented the registration of a political party formed by Michael Ben-Ari and Baruch Marzel. Both Ben-Ari and Marzel are activists associated with the "Kach" movement founded by Meir Kahane, which has been designated a terrorist organization. Their party, named "A Complete and Strong Jewish Israel," was suspected of promoting the same ideologies and objectives as the banned movement. The current Shin Bet leadership's stance signals a reconsideration of the agency's prior position in this politically sensitive matter.