Shin Bet Chief Meets Former PM Bennett, Affirms Loyalty to State Over Politics

Shin Bet chief David Zini recently held an extended meeting with former Prime Minister and Yachdav party leader Naftali Bennett, according to a report by Channel 12 on Sunday. The meeting was initiated by Zini following Bennett's public statements about security appointments, where Bennett emphasized that security officials who serve Israel professionally and without political bias would remain in their posts, while those acting politically would be replaced.

Bennett clarified in a separate interview that anyone using state security tools for political purposes would not remain under his leadership, stressing his commitment to professionalism regardless of who appointed the officials. The meeting took place amid a tense election campaign and was reportedly intended to convey to Bennett, a prime ministerial candidate, that Zini's loyalty is to the state rather than any individual leader. Zini also assured he would cooperate properly with any political leadership.

The discussion also covered security concerns related to rising threats against public officials, referencing recent terror attempts targeting politicians both online and physically. This meeting is part of a series of recent security briefings Zini has conducted with political figures, including former IDF Chief Gadi Eizenkot and opposition leader Yair Lapid. No official response was provided by Bennett's office, and the Shin Bet declined to comment on the meeting.