Israel's Shin Bet security agency said Friday evening that the investigation into the leak of classified operational details to Channel 12 was opened long before Director David Zini's meeting with commentator Yaakov Bardugo, according to i24NEWS. The report by journalist Avishai Grinzeig also revealed that an additional Shin Bet employee, a first-degree relative of a prominent Channel 14 journalist, attended the meeting in an official capacity.
On Friday evening at 18:59 Jerusalem, the Shin Bet confirmed that the investigation into the leak of classified operational details to Channel 12 was ordered long before Director David Zini's meeting with commentator Yaakov Bardugo — a timeline that contradicts claims the meeting prompted the probe. The confirmation came hours after journalist Avishai Grinzeig's i24NEWS exposé, published at 16:13 Jerusalem, revealed that an additional Shin Bet employee, a first-degree relative of a Channel 14 journalist, attended the meeting in an official capacity. The employee's identity cannot be published due to legal restrictions.
The Zioneer's thread of the affair shows the Shin Bet's first official response at 18:59 Jerusalem (version 1) denying any link between the probe and the meeting. Within the same hour, the agency acknowledged that Zini requested an investigation before the meeting (version 2), stated the decision was made long before the meeting (version 3), and reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the probe (version 4). By 18:59, the Shin Bet confirmed the investigation into the leak of Iran operation timing (version 5) and confirmed that Zini ordered the investigation before the Bardugo meeting (version 6). The Zioneer had reported Grinzeig's exposé earlier at 16:13 Jerusalem.
The leak affair began after Channel 12 aired classified details from the Iran operation, sparking political firestorm. As The Zioneer reported on June 29, Bardugo had alleged that senior Shin Bet officials were blocking the investigation despite orders from Zini and Netanyahu. The Shin Bet's latest statement aims to push back against those allegations, asserting that the probe was already underway before any meeting.
The investigation's status and scope remain unclear. The employee's identity is protected by legal restrictions. Political reactions continue, with calls for transparency from across the spectrum.
7 developments
- DevelopingJournalist Avishai Grinzeig reveals Shin Bet employee relative of Channel 14 journalist attended Bardugo-Zini meeting
- DevelopingBardugo: Shin Bet investigations division and legal adviser block leak probe despite Zini's order
- DevelopingYaakov Bardugo: Shin Bet still hasn't probed Channel 12 leak despite PM's direct order
- DevelopingYaakov Bardugo challenges Shin Bet chief David Zini on incitement and leak inaction
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