According to a report by The Times Of Israel, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has accused both the Shin Bet security agency and the Attorney General’s Office of working against Israel’s national interests, escalating tensions within the country’s political and security establishment.
Smotrich, who also leads the Religious Zionism party, echoed allegations made by the far-right Otzma Yehudit party that the Shin Bet interfered in the appointment of the agency’s new chief, Maj. Gen. (res.) David Zini. He further accused Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of acting in ways that harm Israeli soldiers and security forces.
“We will do everything to protect our fighters, our Judaism, our existence and security, and our democracy against those who undermine it under the guise of being ‘gatekeepers,’” Smotrich said in a strongly worded statement.
He alleged that “elements within the Shin Bet” had been using surveillance tools in an attempt to prevent Zini’s appointment. “There are elements within the Shin Bet operating through spyware to thwart the appointment of a Shin Bet chief,” he claimed.
The controversy follows a proposal submitted by Otzma Yehudit to the Knesset on Monday, calling for a formal investigation into the alleged interference by the Shin Bet. The party insists that the agency tried to “thwart” Zini’s nomination by linking him to an officer who was under Shin Bet surveillance for allegedly leaking classified information.
According to an investigative report by Haaretz, the agency had been monitoring a Shin Bet officer suspected of passing sensitive material to the Grunis Committee, which is responsible for vetting senior government appointments. The report claimed that Zini had met with the officer, raising concerns within the security establishment.
Smotrich’s accusations add to growing political friction between Israel’s right-wing ministers and state institutions, particularly the security and judicial bodies. His comments reflect a broader campaign among members of the governing coalition to challenge what they view as deep-seated opposition within Israel’s bureaucratic and legal frameworks to their policies and appointments.
The Shin Bet has not yet issued a public response to Smotrich’s claims, while the controversy continues to stir debate over the balance of power between Israel’s political leadership and its security agencies. View, More,
Explore More News By Using The Button.