PM’s choice to head Shin Bet criticized Halevi for ‘prioritizing’ hostages — report
‘You prioritize the return of the hostages over destroying Hamas,’ Zini reportedly told then-IDF chief months ago; sources close to Netanyahu said unsure appointment will go ahead
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
New reported comments by designated Shin Bet chief Maj. Gen. David Zini, regarding policy on securing the release of the hostages held by Hamas, emerged Saturday night, in which he apparently expressed opposition to making the return of the captives Israel’s top priority in the current war.
According to a report by Channel 12 news, Zini criticized then IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi several months ago over his stance on the hostage issue, saying “you prioritize the return of the hostages over destroying Hamas.”
Alongside that comment, the network reported that several senior military sources speaking off the record said they heard that Zini has made repeated comments against deals for the return of the hostages.
The reporting comes after Channel 12 said Friday that Zini told colleagues in the military, “I’m against hostage deals. This is an eternal war.”
Groups representing the families of the hostages denounced Zini’s reported comments and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to appoint a Shin Bet chief who would oppose deals for the return of the captives after firing Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, who secured deals to bring about the release of dozens of hostages.
Channel 13 also reported Sunday that Zini told residents of Gaza border communities that “it is your responsibility, as someone who lives here, to ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again.”
The remarks were made when conclusions of the army’s investigation into October 7 were presented to the communities, sparking anger and shock among those present.
“Anyone who lives on the borders has a responsibility…You are the ones who need to be vigilant. That is your job,” the general continued, adding that increased training should be provided to communities.
Residents said that they felt that Zini lacked compassion and failed to appreciate the responsibility of the army.
Meanwhile, senior IDF officers, some of whom were Zini’s commanders in the Golani Brigade, told Channel 13 that they asked him to turn down the position. They said that while he is “an excellent commander,” Zini isn’t suited to lead the Shin Bet, adding that they were “astounded by [his] willingness to be thrown under the bus.”
It is still uncertain if Zini will ultimately be appointed Shin Bet chief, owing to the legal problems over Netanyahu’s involvement in the process, following the High Court of Justice’s determination this week that he had a conflict of interest in firing the security agency’s outgoing head, Ronen Bar.
That prompted Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s subsequent instructions for Netanyahu to refrain from appointing a new Shin Bet leader while she formulated a legal opinion on the matter.
According to the Kan public broadcaster, even sources close to Netanyahu are not certain the appointment will go ahead, believing there to be only a 50 percent chance it will happen.
The Channel 12 report said Zini made his comment to Halevi during a security briefing in the IDF’s Southern Command several months ago before Halevi stepped down, and it generated a “loud confrontation,” according to sources who were present.
Security sources who were involved in other meetings in which Zini was present were quoted in the report as saying that he “doesn’t take the hostages into account,” and that he has persistently opposed a deal.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said it was “furious” to hear of Zini’s comments, which it said were especially concerning since he is slated to be deeply involved in “determining the fate” of the captives who are still held by Hamas.
“The appointment of a Shin Bet head who puts Netanyahu’s war before the return of the hostages piles sin upon the crime and does injustice to the entire people of Israel, harms the value of fellowship, and the sacred duty of leaving no one behind,” the forum said, and demanded clarification.
Forum Haim, another group representing families of hostages, demanded that Zini’s appointment be canceled, saying that dozens of hostages died in captivity during the military campaign, and that only an agreement would bring about the release of the remaining 58 hostages.
“Mr. Abandonment Netanyahu chose to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet, who returned dozens of abductees, and appoint in his place someone who opposes the agreements for their return, contrary to the demand of the majority of the Israeli public to end the war and return the hostages,” said the group.
The High Court issued a ruling on Wednesday, finding that Netanyahu had a conflict of interest in firing Bar due to the Shin Bet’s role in ongoing criminal investigations into Netanyahu’s close aides.
Baharav-Miara then immediately informed Netanyahu that as a result, he was barred from appointing a new Shin Bet chief while she worked out the implications of the ruling.
Nevertheless, Netanyahu’s office announced Thursday evening that he was appointing Zini, who “has served in many IDF operational positions and commands.”
On Friday, Netanyahu’s office pushed back against the criticism over his decision to name a new Shin Bet head in defiance of Baharav-Miara’s instructions, insisting that Zini would have no role in the ongoing investigation into his staffers’ alleged ties to Qatar.
Zini, meanwhile, was ousted from the military on Friday for meeting with Netanyahu behind the back of the now IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.
A father of 11, Zini had been serving as head of the IDF Training Command and General Staff Corps. He has also been responsible for advancing the draft of Haredi soldiers to the military.
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