The Zioneer clarifies that the meeting between Yaakov Bardugo and Shin Bet chief David Zini took place more than a month ago, while the cabinet discussion where Zini said he had no leads occurred on June 25. This undermines the narrative that Zini changed his position after the meeting.
The Zioneer has clarified that the meeting between commentator Yaakov Bardugo and Shin Bet director David Zini took place more than a month ago, while the security cabinet discussion where Zini told ministers he had no investigative leads occurred on June 25. This timeline, confirmed by The Zioneer's sources, undermines claims that Zini changed his position on the leak investigation after meeting Bardugo, as the meeting predates the cabinet discussion by weeks.
The clarification comes after a series of reports on Friday evening. At 19:14 Jerusalem, The Zioneer first reported that the Shin Bet denied the leak investigation was blocked, stating the decision was made before the meeting. Minutes later, the same edition reported that Zini had cited the legal impossibility of investigating 4,500 potential suspects, and finally that the Shin Bet confirmed the probe decision predated the meeting. Context from earlier reports remains relevant: on June 29, The Zioneer reported that Zini rebuffed cabinet ministers' demand to investigate the Channel 12 leak, saying 'there is no lead to pursue.' That cabinet discussion is now dated to June 25, before the Bardugo meeting.
The meeting between Bardugo and Zini has been a focus of political controversy. Bardugo, a commentator, had publicly challenged Zini over incitement and the leak, as The Zioneer reported on June 17. Subsequently, Bardugo's credibility was questioned after he was caught in a falsehood, as reported on June 30. The current clarification separates the timing of the meeting from the cabinet discussion, reinforcing the Shin Bet's position that the decision to investigate the leak was independent of Bardugo's intervention.
It remains unclear what exactly was discussed in the meeting and whether Bardugo's public campaign influenced the agency's handling of the leak investigation. The Shin Bet has not provided details on the content of the meeting, and Bardugo's own account has shifted. The Zioneer's sources confirm the date but not the substance of the discussion.
3 developments
- DevelopingShin Bet responds to i24NEWS: Leak probe opened long before Zini-Bardugo meeting
- StrongYashar party demands Shin Bet chief Zini explain meeting with Bardugo
- DevelopingBardugo, caught in falsehood, demands probe of Shin Bet chief Zini as well
- DevelopingEisenkot and Bennett react to Zini-Bardo meeting affair
Source and signal
- Internal intake