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Shin Bet Chief Visited Paris Amid French Riots, Diplomatic Tensions

Shin Bet Director David Zini visited Paris to meet with senior French security and intelligence officials amid severe riots and urban violence in France. The working visit, which occurred on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, focused on the ongoing unrest, counter-terrorism efforts, and combating Islamist extremism. Zini met with representatives from France's domestic intelligence agency, DGSI, and its external security service, DGSE.

3 newsrooms · 3 languages · since 21 Oct, 22:14

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Shin Bet Chief Visited Paris Amid French Riots, Diplomatic Tensions — Illustration by baba

What happened

01Shin Bet Director David Zini visited Paris on October 20, 2026, to meet with French intelligence officials during severe domestic riots.
02Zini held working meetings with senior officials from France's domestic intelligence agency, DGSI, and its external security service, DGSE.
03The discussions focused on counter-terrorism, combating Islamist extremism, and sharing Israel's security expertise amid the French unrest.
04The visit occurred despite diplomatic tensions between Israel and France over the Gaza war, the Palestinian issue, and bilateral military relations.
05French President Emmanuel Macron criticized comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed France surrendered to radical Islam.
06Rioters in France engaged in widespread arson and looting while displaying Algerian and Palestinian flags and spraying pro-Palestinian graffiti.
07The Shin Bet declined to comment on the details or the schedule of Director Zini's visit to Paris.

The intelligence meetings took place despite notable diplomatic tensions between the French and Israeli governments. These political strains stem from disagreements over the war in Gaza, the Palestinian issue, and bilateral military relations. Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron recently criticized "stupid comments" made by world leaders regarding the riots, which was widely seen as a response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Netanyahu had warned Macron that France "surrendered to the invasion of radical Islam," while Trump blamed immigration for the unrest.

During the riots, which involved arson, vandalism, and looting, participants displayed Algerian and Palestinian flags and sprayed pro-Palestinian graffiti. Security sources emphasized that intelligence cooperation between Israel and France continues effectively despite these diplomatic crises. The Shin Bet declined to comment on the details of the Director's visit.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 18:37

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