Maj. Gen. (res.) David Zini approved as director of Shin Bet

Zini, who is Orthodox, has 11 children and comes from a family of rabbis of Algerian descent. He lives in the Golan Heights.

By JNS

The Israeli Cabinet on Wednesday unanimously approved the appointment of Israel Defense Forces Maj. Gen. (res.) David Zini, 51, as director of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) for a five-year term.

He will take office on Oct. 5.

Zini held a broad range of posts in the Israel Defense Forces, including as a commander of the Golani Infantry Brigade Battalion 51; commander of the Egoz special forces unit; commander of the Alexandroni Reserve Infantry Brigade; commander of the Training Command and the General Staff Corps; and founder of both the Commando Brigade and ultra-Orthodox Hasmonean Brigade.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the appointment, saying the reality after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre requires a new Shin Bet chief from outside the agency’s ranks.

Netanyahu spoke with Zini to congratulate him, calling him “the right person to lead the organization,” and wished him success in his “important role for Israel’s security.”

The prime minister also thanked “Shin,” who has served as acting Shin Bet chief in recent months, for his dedicated service.

According to a government statement, Zini’s hallmark critical thinking, ability to innovate and adapt the system to changing realities, and extensive operational experience in force-building and deployment made him the right choice to head the agency at this time.

The previous Shin Bet chief, Ronen Bar, stepped down on June 15, ending his tenure prematurely.

Netanyahu had announced his intention to dismiss Bar on March 16. “I have an ongoing lack of trust in the head of the Shin Bet, a lack of trust that has grown over time,” he said.

The prime minister had reportedly wanted to oust Bar for months due to the Shin Bet’s failure in the run-up to the Oct. 7 invasion.

However, several members of the political opposition accused Netanyahu of firing Bar to suppress the “Qatar-gate” investigation.

In July, the government and the Attorney General’s Office informed the High Court of Justice that they had reached a compromise on appointing Zini to avoid conflicts of interest.

On Tuesday, President Isaac Herzog welcomed Zini’s appointment, noting that he brings decades of “rich and diverse” experience as a fighter and commander in defense of Israel and its citizens.

“In sensitive and threatened days like these, when innocent Israelis were brutally attacked in an act of terror, it is important to remind all of us how critical the effective and nationwide functioning of the Shin Bet is to protecting Israeli society, its security and its values,” said Herzog.

Zini, who is Orthodox, has 11 children and comes from a family of rabbis of Algerian descent. He lives in the Golan Heights.