Advisory committee approves David Zini’s candidacy for Shin Bet chief, paving way for his appointment

The Senior Appointments Advisory Committee has approved the candidacy of former IDF general David Zini for the director of the Shin Bet security agency, the committee says in a statement, effectively guaranteeing his appointment to the position.

With the committee’s approval, the cabinet can now vote to appoint Zini, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pick, to the post.

A six-page letter signed by retired Supreme Court president and committee chairman Asher Grunis and two senior committee members explains that there was no disqualifying conflict of interest in Zini’s appointment.

The committee rejects the claim that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was barred from proposing a candidate because the Shin Bet was actively investigating his advisors for their ties to Qatar.

It also finds that although Netanyahu offering the position to Zini in his car without first consulting the IDF chief of staff violated custom, it did not constitute “a breach of integrity.”

The committee also rejected claims that statements by Zini and his family member rendered him unqualified for the position.

The committee acknowledges that there were cases in which Netanyahu “asked candidates for head of the Shin Bet to carry out actions not befitting a democratic system of government. However, says the committee, the authority to propose a candidate rests with the prime minister.

“The committee unanimously found no ethical or conflict-of-interest barrier to appointing Major General David Zini as Head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and confirmed that the Prime Minister is legally entitled to propose him,” concludes the committee.