260 Former Officials in the Shabak: The Appointment of Zini "May Cause Huge Damage to Israel"

SadaNews - More than 260 former employees and directors of the Israeli Security Agency (Shabak) stated on Tuesday that the appointment of David Zini as the agency's head "may cause huge damage to the State of Israel," in a joint letter they submitted to the Grunis Committee, according to Channel 12. The signatories confirmed in their message that Zini's public positions regarding the judicial system, alongside his willingness to accept the position despite the legal restrictions on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in addition to his personal relationships with him, represent substantial issues that warrant rejecting his appointment. The letter stated that Zini's comments about the judicial system raise concerns that "in the event of a conflict between the Supreme Court's decisions and the Prime Minister's directives, he would not adhere to the rule of law." It added that his appointment under the legal advisor's prohibition against Netanyahu engaging in the appointment process, and by bypassing the Chief of Staff, raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the process. The letter also addressed Zini's personal connections with the Prime Minister, considering that these connections could affect his decisions in matters concerning Netanyahu personally, especially in light of ongoing investigations with close associates and advisors of the Prime Minister. The signatories wrote: "The head of the Shabak is obliged to be loyal to the public, not subject to personal loyalties to the responsible minister or any political party, and to set an example in his commitment to the laws of the state and its official institutions," SadaNews followed up. They emphasized that "each one of these three matters, if proven true, constitutes sufficient reason to reject Zini's nomination for the position." They added: "The Shabak is a crucial agency in maintaining Israel's security and democratic strength, and any harm to this delicate fabric could cause huge damage to the state." The signatories urged the Grunis Committee to examine Zini's suitability "with utmost seriousness," and not to approve his appointment "if these concerns are confirmed." Last Thursday, Netanyahu approached the committee responsible for approving senior appointments (Grunis Committee), requesting the approval of appointing reserve Major General Zini as head of the Shabak, this after the government legal advisor expressed previous reservations regarding the legality of this appointment. Netanyahu requested the committee to approve the appointment so that the government can endorse it by the end of the term of the acting head of the agency on September 21 of this year, indicating the "urgent need to appoint a permanent head due to the security challenges faced by the agency." In his message to the committee, chaired by former Supreme Court president, retired judge Asher Grunis, Netanyahu stated that this step comes according to legal understandings established since 2015. He noted that he considered "a number of candidates from within the Shabak and from other security agencies," adding that "the implications of the events of October 7 on the agency compelled me to choose a new chief from outside its ranks."