Police Officer Questions Shin Bet Chief Over Terrorist 'Battalions' in Negev

During a cabinet meeting, Zini warned of extremely worrying formations in the Bedouin diaspora that he claimed aim to carry out attacks. The Shin Bet chief stated that these groups have connections to the terrorist organization Hamas, linked through marriage relations with women from Gaza and Judea and Samaria.

In response, the senior police official questioned the source of Zini's intelligence, stating it remains unclear where the Shin Bet chief obtained this information. The official noted that both police and Shin Bet coordinators working in the Southern District are entirely unaware of the basis for these claims.

The police official criticized the warning for creating panic without actionable information. He emphasized that if the Shin Bet possesses intelligence regarding the establishment of battalions or military infrastructure in the Negev, such critical information must be shared directly with the Israel Police and the Southern District first so they can act.