Under government pressure, Zini said seeking AG approval to probe alleged Channel 12 leak on Iran war’s start

By Nava Freiberg

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9 July 2026, 3:26 pm

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Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.

Shin Bet director David Zini at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem during Memorial Day on April 21, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Shin Bet chief David Zini recently asked the Justice Ministry to seek Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s approval for an investigation into an alleged leak to Channel 12 regarding the date on which the war with Iran would begin earlier this year, Haaretz reports, citing a security source.

According to the source, the request came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and government ministers pressured Zini on the matter during a security cabinet meeting, despite the latter’s assessment that approval for such an investigation would not be granted.

According to Ynet, Transportation Minister Miri Regev pressed Zini in the meeting on why the Shin Bet was not investigating the purported leak, and Zini responded that there was no point in doing so given the circumstances, telling ministers: “The incident happened a long time ago; they asked to investigate it several months later. More than 4,500 people were privy to the secret [war plans], and there is no lead. An investigation of this kind, involving media outlets, requires the attorney general’s approval, and she is not expected to grant such approval.”

Hebrew media reported last month that Netanyahu had asked Zini to open an investigation into the matter, following similar efforts by Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi called in early March for a probe, after Channel 14 commentator Yaakov Bardugo, who is close to Netanyahu, alleged that Channel 12 appeared unusually prepared to go on air early Saturday on February 28 — the first day of the war — with presenter Yonit Levy and commentators already “in full makeup” minutes after the opening strikes were carried out.

Channel 14 previously quoted the premier as saying the alleged leak was a “criminal leak” that jeopardized the success of the operation, and Bardugo recently stated on a radio show that he met with Zini in the Shin Bet chief’s office to press for the investigation.

The Shin Bet declines to respond to Haaretz’s request for comment on the report.