The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) issued its first official response to the ongoing controversy over the leak investigation and the meeting between director David Zini and commentator Yaakov Bardugo. In a statement, the agency denied that the decision to open the investigation was connected to the meeting, saying it was made 'long before' the meeting took place, and rejected any attempt to attribute the decision to 'discourse with one or another party.'
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) issued its first official response Friday evening to the ongoing controversy over the leak investigation and the meeting between agency director David Zini and political commentator Yaakov Bardugo.
In a statement, the Shin Bet said: "Without confirming the accuracy of any such publication, it will be clarified that leak investigations are opened in accordance with the authority and decision of the Shin Bet director, only after an orderly process by the professional and legal advisory bodies in the service.... The decision regarding the need to investigate the leak was made by the Shin Bet director long before the date of the meeting in question."
The response comes after weeks of public debate, during which Bardugo alleged that senior Shin Bet officials were blocking the investigation despite a direct order from Prime Minister Netanyahu and Zini. The Zioneer has previously reported on demands by ministers for the investigation and on Zini's earlier remarks dismissing the demands.
The Yashar party had also called on Zini to explain his meeting with Bardugo. The Shin Bet's statement did not directly address the meeting's content but defended the director's authority to meet with journalists.
6 developments
- DevelopingBardugo, caught in falsehood, demands probe of Shin Bet chief Zini as well
- DevelopingBardugo: Shin Bet investigations division and legal adviser block leak probe despite Zini's order
- StrongShin Bet chief requests investigation into leak allegations to journalists after ministers' demand
- StrongYashar party demands Shin Bet chief Zini explain meeting with Bardugo
Source and signal
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- Internal intake