Did Zini's relationship to Sara Netanyahu land him the shin bet job?
ALBAWABA - The appointment of General David Zini as the new leader of Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet, by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked intense controversy. Reports have focused on Zini's hardline religious beliefs, lack of intelligence expertise, and purported personal relationship to Sara Netanyahu.
Israeli media sites such as Ynet and BeHadrei Haredim claim that Netanyahu had previously turned down Zini for the position of military secretary, calling him "too messianic" in private conversations. The phrase alludes to Zini's membership in the religious Zionist movement, which some consider to be politically and socially extremist and holds that the establishment of a future Israeli state is connected to the arrival of the Messiah and the reconstruction of the Third Temple.
Zini's philosophy had previously raised problems, but Netanyahu abruptly changed his mind and named him head of the Shin Bet. Given that the Shin Bet head is essential to ensuring national security, this shift has drawn condemnation from Israel's religious and secular communities.
After General Ori Gordon resigned and General Yaniv Assor was assigned to the Southern Command, Zini, a revered operational officer and a key player in the religious Zionist camp, had previously been considered for senior command positions in the Israeli army, specifically the Northern Command.
Zini's lack of previous intelligence work experience and his history of publicly criticizing the Israeli government and military exacerbated the response. His stances, according to his detractors, make him a divisive and contentious candidate to lead a security organization entrusted with managing political sensitivities and internal dangers.
Additionally, according to sources, Netanyahu did not confer with General Eyal Zamir or Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi before appointing Zini, even though Zini is now the Commander of the IDF's Training Command and was involved in Operation Gideon Chariots. According to analysts, Netanyahu could have foreseen possible resistance from military leadership.
Unverified rumors of a private connection between Zini and Sara Netanyahu have added to the public's curiosity. While no official pronouncements have addressed the claim, some assume that the relationship may have had a role in the Prime Minister's abrupt shift in stance.
Particularly within the right-wing and religious sectors, the appointment has generated intense controversy. While some see it as a gain for religious Zionism, others wonder about the political reasons behind it and its ramifications for national security.
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