According to an i24NEWS report, a Shin Bet employee who is a first-degree relative of a prominent Channel 14 journalist attended the recent meeting between commentator Yaakov Bardugo and Shin Bet director David Zini, where Bardugo demanded a leak investigation targeting Channel 12. The report also says Zini has since reversed his position and sought attorney general approval for the probe, after initially telling cabinet ministers it lacked legal justification. The Shin Bet declined to comment.
An i24NEWS report published Friday provides new details about the meeting between Shin Bet director David Zini and right-wing commentator Yaakov Bardugo, which Bardugo publicly disclosed earlier in the day. According to the report, a Shin Bet employee who is a first-degree relative of a well-known Channel 14 journalist was present at the meeting. The revelation raises questions about potential conflicts of interest in the unfolding controversy over the investigation of a leak to Channel 12.
Bardugo had visited Shin Bet headquarters to urge Zini to open an investigation into the leak of classified operational details from Operation Roaring Lion to Channel 12. The report notes that Zini initially told cabinet ministers there was no legal basis for such a probe, but according to a Haaretz report, he later sought authorization from the attorney general. The Shin Bet has declined to comment.
The Zioneer reported earlier Friday that Bardugo had revealed the meeting on Galei Israel radio. The controversy over the leak has been a recurring issue in Israeli media, with Bardugo and others accusing the Shin Bet of inaction. The new i24NEWS report adds a personal dimension to the story, linking the meeting to a Channel 14 journalist's relative within the Shin Bet.
3 developments
- DevelopingBardugo: Shin Bet investigations division and legal adviser block leak probe despite Zini's order
- StrongYashar party demands Shin Bet chief Zini explain meeting with Bardugo
- DevelopingBardugo, caught in falsehood, demands probe of Shin Bet chief Zini as well
- DevelopingYaakov Bardugo challenges Shin Bet chief David Zini on incitement and leak inaction
Source and signal
- Internal intake