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Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has declared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s appointment of Major General David Zini as the new head of the Shin Bet—Israel’s internal security agency—as "illegal and unacceptable."
In a written statement outlining her legal opinion, Baharav-Miara said Netanyahu is in a clear conflict of interest regarding the appointment, and that his actions violate a Supreme Court decision as well as binding legal directives.
"This is an unacceptable and unlawful decision," she stated, emphasizing that the Prime Minister had deliberately disregarded binding regulations.
Baharav-Miara stressed that Netanyahu must not be involved—either directly or indirectly—in the selection of the next Shin Bet chief or deputy. She recommended transferring the appointment authority to another minister and restarting the selection process under stricter legal oversight. She also voiced concerns over whether Zini is legally eligible for the role.
On May 22, Netanyahu appointed Zini as the new Shin Bet director, despite an earlier ruling from the Supreme Court that blocked his attempt to dismiss the current head, Ronen Bar.
Netanyahu had previously sought to remove Bar, citing a "loss of trust." The move sparked sharp criticism, with Baharav-Miara warning that the Prime Minister lacks the authority to arbitrarily dismiss the head of Shin Bet.
The Supreme Court responded by first freezing the dismissal and later issuing an injunction preventing Bar’s removal or the appointment of a successor.
The attempted dismissal led to widespread protests and heated debate within Israeli political circles. Opposition leaders condemned the move, which triggered demonstrations across the country.
Bar, who has served through a politically sensitive and volatile period, later announced he would resign on June 15, citing responsibility for the intelligence failures linked to the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks.
Bar stated that accountability should not fall solely on security officials, and that political leadership must also bear responsibility.
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