Report: Shin Bet chief seeks approval to question Channel 12 journalists over Iran leak

Shin Bet chief David Zini has asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to authorize the security agency to summon journalists for questioning as part of its investigation into the alleged leak to Channel 12 over the timing of this year’s opening strikes on Iran, Haaretz reports.

According to the report, Zini believes that questioning journalists could help investigators identify the leaker, given that thousands were privy to the operational plans ahead of the joint US-Israel strikes on February 28.

“When there are 4,500 people who share the secret and there is no indication whatsoever that any of them leaked anything, the only way is to take testimony from the journalists and perhaps in that way understand what happened,” a security source tells Haaretz.

The report comes after Hebrew media reported last week that Zini had sought the attorney general’s approval to investigate suspicions that Channel 12 was tipped off ahead of the US-Israeli strikes that launched the war with Iran.

On Saturday, Channel 12 reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed Zini to investigate the alleged leak. The report came days after the Shin Bet denied claims of government pressure to open the probe, after Channel 14 commentator and Netanyahu ally Jacob Bardugo said he had met with Zini to urge him to investigate Channel 12.