High Court approves government, AG compromise agreement over appointment of new Shin Bet chief

The High Court of Justice approves an agreement between the government and the attorney general that will pave the way for the appointment of Maj. Gen. David Zini as the next head of the Shin Bet.

Under the agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will inform the head of the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee in two months of his pick to head the Shin Bet, which will review the candidate’s suitability for the job.

The two-month period is reportedly designed to give the Shin Bet time to complete its part in the criminal investigations in the Qatargate and leaked documents scandals involving Netanyahu’s close aides.

The attorney general will also draw up a conflict of interest agreement for the new Shin Bet chief regarding his participation in those two investigations.

The current acting head of the Shin Bet known as “Shin” will serve until the next head of the security agency takes office.

The agreement brings to an end an extremely fraught legal and constitutional saga, following the government’s decision to fire former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar in March.

The High Court ruled in May that Netanyahu had acted unlawfully in recommending to the cabinet that Bar be fired, stating that the Shin Bet investigations into the prime minister’s close aides meant he had a conflict of interest in the decision and should not have been involved.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara then issued instructions forbidding Netanyahu from involvement in appointing the next Shin Bet chief.

A majority of a different panel of judges earlier this month appeared to side with petitioners against the attorney general, leading to today’s compromise.