“Israeli” PM Names New Security Chief, Defying Attorney General

By Staff, Agencies

"Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday his pick for the next head of the "Shin Bet" internal security agency, defying the entity’s attorney general and a significant segment of the public.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu announced this evening his decision to appoint Major General David Zini as the next head of the 'Shin Bet'," a statement from the premier's office said.

The decision is the latest development in a long-running controversy surrounding the role, which has seen mass protests against the incumbent chief's dismissal, as well as against moves pushed by Netanyahu to expand elected officials' power to appoint judges.

The supreme court on Wednesday ruled the entity's decision to fire current domestic security chief Ronen Bar was "improper and unlawful".

Netanyahu's move to tap Zini to replace Bar directly defied Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who had said that, given the court ruling, the premier "must refrain from any action related to the appointment of a new head of the ‘Shin Bet’".

Netanyahu immediately responded in a rare press conference that "Israel" would make an appointment despite Baharav-Miara's stance.

Following Thursday's announcement, the attorney general released a statement saying that the prime minister was acting "contrary to legal guidance".

"There is serious concern that he acted while in a conflict of interest, and the appointment process is flawed," the statement said.

The announcement comes after more than two months of political and legal wrangling over who should head the powerful agency.

Following Thursday's announcement, opposition leader Yair Lapid called on General Zini to announce that he cannot accept his appointment until the “Supreme Court” rules on the matter.

The NGO Movement in "Israel", meanwhile, said it will file a “legal” petition "in the coming days against this invalid appointment, and will continue to stand firm against attempts to defy the ‘legal’ system and the rule of law".

Bar himself suggested that his ouster was linked to investigations into October 7, 2023 operation "and other serious matters". He has since said he will step down in June.

Baharav-Miara has suggested Netanyahu's conflict of interest in removing Bar stems from a case, dubbed "Qatargate" by "Israeli" media, involving close advisers to the premier under investigation for allegedly receiving money from the Gulf emirate.