Shin Bet Director David Zini said Monday evening that he met opposition figures Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Lapid on Prime Minister Netanyahu's instruction, and asked them not to politicize security issues. The statement, reported by Israeli media, confirms earlier reports that the meetings were authorized by the prime minister.
Shin Bet Director David Zini said Monday evening that he met opposition figures Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Lapid on Prime Minister Netanyahu's instruction, and that he asked them not to politicize security issues. The remarks, which surfaced in a direct quote published by Israeli media, provide the most explicit confirmation of the prime minister's role in authorizing the meetings.
The development follows a series of reports over the past two weeks about Zini's outreach to opposition candidates. As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday, Zini said at a closed-door hearing that Netanyahu had authorized the meetings. The direct quote now adds detail: Zini said he told the candidates 'not to make politics at the expense of Israel's security.'
Earlier reports: On July 12, Zini met with opposition leader Yair Lapid for the first time since taking office. On July 23, Zini requested a meeting with Eisenkot ahead of a possible power transition. On July 26, Zini met former PM Bennett. Earlier Monday, Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz confirmed he also met Zini recently.
The meetings come amid heightened security threats and political tension in Israel, with elections approaching and a potential change of government. Zini's comments underscore the Shin Bet's effort to ensure continuity of security briefings across the political spectrum, while also signaling concern about the politicization of security issues.
2 developments
- StrongShin Bet chief Zini meets opposition leader Lapid for first time since taking office
- StrongShin Bet chief Zini meets former PM Bennett in recent days amid criticism
- StrongShin Bet chief Zini seeks meeting with PM candidate Eisenkot ahead of possible power transition
- DevelopingBlue and White chairman Gantz says he met Shin Bet chief Zini in recent days
Source and signal
- Open-source intake