Minister calls on state comptroller to provide defense to Shin Bet suspect as whistleblower

Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli has sent a letter to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, calling on him to provide legal defense to the Shin Bet official suspected of leaking classified information to journalists and to Chikli himself.

Chikli argues that the man, whose identity is withheld, should be recognized as a corruption whistleblower for airing information on a Shin Bet probe into suspected extremist Kahanist ideology taking root in the police force under far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The suspect has claimed that the probe was intended to justify the investigation of political leaders.

Outraged coalition members have claimed the investigation was further proof that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar must not remain in his post, with some ministers claiming it was more evidence of an alleged “deep state” working to oust the government.