Israel's Netanyahu defends Zini appointment as Shin Bet chief, slams attorney general

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday defended his decision to appoint Maj. Gen. David Zini as the next head of the internal security agency Shin Bet, criticizing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara for allegedly obstructing the process due to "numerous conflicts of interest," the Maariv daily reported.

In a video posted from his kitchen, Netanyahu asked a woman cooking nearby to prepare a meal for him before turning to his media adviser and spokesman, Topaz Luk, for an interview.

“A word about Maj. Gen. Zini—because I've heard that I didn't want him or barely knew him. That's nonsense,” Netanyahu said in the video. “I've known him for 18 years. I interviewed him last year when he was a candidate for military secretary.”

Netanyahu said Zini had long been on his shortlist of candidates and that both Zini and another unnamed candidate were “excellent.”

He added: “I've always kept my eye on him and believed he deserved to advance. Now the opportunity has come.”

He believes Zini will be an "excellent Shin Bet chief," Netanyahu said, claiming that he "uncovered the problem in Gaza" but providing no additional information.

He added: “Someone like him deserves the position and to use his extensive experience in leading the Shin Bet. We're at war, and this appointment can't be delayed.”

Netanyahu accused officials of stalling the appointment using “various excuses,” arguing that “the law is crystal clear—the prime minister submits a nominee to the government.”

He then launched a direct attack on Baharav-Miara, alleging that she is in a “conflict of interest—not just one, but several.”

Separately, Channel 12 reported that a leaked audio recording revealed Zini making inflammatory and explicitly anti-Muslim remarks.

According to the Israeli broadcaster, Zini made the comments during a recent meeting with illegal Israeli settlers living near the Gaza border.

In the recording, as quoted by Channel 12, he said: “We have a constant intelligence alert about evil Muslims intending to kill good Jews, from the time of Ishmael's birth until further notice.”

On Wednesday, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the government's decision to fire current Shin Bet director Ronen Bar was made through “improper procedures that violated the law,” while Netanyahu was in a conflict of interest.

Following the ruling, Baharav-Miara instructed Netanyahu not to proceed with any replacement until legal guidance is finalized.

Despite that, Netanyahu announced on Thursday that Zini would replace Bar as head of Shin Bet, sparking protests and political pushback, including threats of civil disobedience and legal petitions to block the move.

Baharav-Miara responded that Netanyahu's move “violates legal instructions” and raises “serious concerns of a conflict of interest.”

Netanyahu remained defiant, insisting that his decision is legal and that he will follow the appropriate legal process for the appointment.

On March 20, the government had decided to dismiss Bar, with the move scheduled to take effect on April 10. However, the Supreme Court has frozen the decision pending rulings on opposition petitions, Maariv reported.

Netanyahu cited a “lack of trust” in Bar, linking the dismissal to the fallout from the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.

On April 28, however, Bar announced that he would leave his post on June 15.

The dispute comes as the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing more than 53,900 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.