President defends Shin Bet amid right-wing criticism

President Reuven Rivlin backs the Shin Bet security service amid right-wing attacks over the detention last week on terror suspicions of several Jewish youths in the West Bank.

At a swearing-in ceremony for 29 judges at the President’s Residence today, Rivlin says:

“The Shin Bet is under fire at the moment. There can be no democracy without criticism. But we must take care to avoid irresponsible attacks on those whose job it is to protect and defend Israel’s security from domestic and foreign threats.

“I know the people of the Shin Bet, and I know that the security of the State of Israel and its citizens is the only thing that guides them. That is how they act, under the professional and inspiring leadership of Nadav Argaman and his predecessors.”

He adds: “From here, I want to express my support for those who serve in all the security forces, and particularly the men and women of the Shin Bet. They save lives day and night, and because of their service we and our children can sleep peacefully.”

Likud lawmaker Nava Boker on Monday accused the Shin Bet of using “KGB investigation methods” and “torturing Jewish boys” as it probes the October death of Aisha Rabi, a mother of eight killed by a rock thrown at her vehicle in the West Bank on October 12.

Right-wing politicians and activists have lambasted the intelligence agency over its arrest and detention without attorney visits last week of several youths studying at the Pri Haaretz yeshiva in the West Bank suspected in the attack.