Reports: Zini filed letter on PM’s inability to testify over objections of legal officials

Channel 12 and Channel 13 reported tonight that Shin Bet chief David Zini’s recent letter to court authorities arguing security considerations prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from currently giving testimony in his criminal trial was written over the objections of the agency’s legal officials.

Channel 13 said unnamed legal officials wanted further details on the alleged risks to Netanyahu, while Channel 12 said the Shin Bet’s chief legal council opposed the letter outright, saying it contained problematic claims.

Zini is reported to have told the courts that there were concerns that Iranian agents may try to harm the premier. Responding to the report, the Movement for Quality Government watchdog group noted that former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar had said in an affidavit last year that he had refused a request by Netanyahu to provide an opinion to the court to advocate for the cancellation of his testimony based on security considerations.

Zini’s actions have led to claims by critics that he is carrying out Netanyahu’s wishes, in order to drag out the trial.

The State Attorney’s Office on Tuesday requested that the Jerusalem District Court hand over the reported Shin Bet document. In a letter to the court, the State Attorney’s Office said it had not received Zini’s position paper, despite standard practice for the prosecutor’s office to receive information pertinent to court proceedings, and had learned of it through media reports.