Shin Bet Chief Reverses Opposition, Allows Registration of 'Jewish Israel' Party

Following a thorough review initiated by Shin Bet Chief David Zini, the security agency withdrew its previous opposition to registering the political party 'Jewish Israel Complete and Strong.' The party, associated with Michael Ben Ari and Baruch Marzel, had faced over two years of rejection based on intelligence assessments linking it to the terrorist organization Kach. The original Shin Bet opinion, issued under former chief Ronen Bar, claimed the party was a continuation of Kach, citing reliable intelligence about its leadership and ideology.

Ahead of a decisive Supreme Court hearing, Zini requested a two-week postponement to personally reassess the classified intelligence. His review revealed significant gaps and concluded that the existing information did not meet the threshold to block the party's registration. The updated assessment acknowledged only a connection between 'Jewish Israel' and Kach, rather than a direct continuation.

Consequently, the Registrar of Political Parties approved the party's registration, and the state asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the ongoing legal proceedings. The party's lawyer, Yitzhak Bam, welcomed the change but criticized the Shin Bet's prior handling of the case. After years of legal battles and refusals, 'Jewish Israel' can now legally operate in Israel's political arena.