Shin Bet unit tasked with combating Jewish terror said in crisis as agency chief deprioritizes issue

The Shin Bet unit responsible for combating Jewish terrorism is in a state of major crisis, with the security agency’s new chair downplaying the significance of settler violence, several security sources tell Haaretz on condition of anonymity.

The sources say that Shin Bet chief David Zini has been characterizing the settler attacks as mere “cases of friction” between Jews and Palestinians, rather than terrorism.

Zini comes from the Orthodox nationalist Hardal camp and studied at the ultraconservative Har Hamor Yeshiva in Jerusalem, which is led by Rabbi Zvi Tau, the spiritual leader of the far-right, anti-LGBTQ Noam party.

The security sources tell Haaretz that Zini has allocated resources away from the so-called Jewish Division, even though settler violence has reached unprecedented levels in recent months.

Several staff members in the division, including some who are the most experienced, have requested transfers due to the lack of seriousness with which the agency is approaching the issue.

The sources say Shin Bet agents have expressed concerns about the “politicization” of the Shin Bet and are also frustrated with the lack of cooperation from the IDF and the Israel Police in dealing with settler violence.

The previous head of the police’s West Bank division is under investigation for ignoring settler violence to curry favor with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

“Staff feel today that their hands are tied behind their backs, because the police and the army are not helping,” one security official tells Haaretz.

The official says the IDF is not even disciplining settler soldiers involved in deadly shootings of Palestinians.

The security officials also faulted the Israeli court system for regularly releasing suspects from custody shortly after they’re arrested for serious offenses.