David Zini
Israeli retired major general; director of the Shin Bet from October 2025
| David Zini
| |
|---|---|
| Image |  David Zini, photographed in 2023 |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Occupation | Military officer; director of the Shin Bet |
| Known for | Director of the Shin Bet from 5 October 2025[1] |
| Predecessor | Ronen Bar |
David Zini is a retired Israeli major general who has been director of the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security service, since 5 October 2025. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nominated him in May 2025 to replace Ronen Bar; the cabinet approved the appointment on 30 September 2025 for a five-year term.[1]
Military career
According to the Jerusalem Post, Zini began his service in the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit (Sayeret Matkal) in 1992, later served in the Paratroopers Brigade, and held command posts in the Golani Brigade and its Egoz commando unit. He held posts in Northern Command, including during the 2006 Lebanon war, commanded the 51st Battalion and the Egoz unit at different points during the 2008–09 Gaza conflict, and briefly commanded the Golani Brigade during the 2014 Gaza conflict, including in the Shejaia fighting, after its commander was wounded. He was operations officer of Central Command in 2014–15 and formed and commanded the Oz (Commando) Brigade from 2015 to 2017. The newspaper noted that his later posts, including as a major general, mostly concerned reservists and training rather than large operational commands.[1]
Appointment as Shin Bet director
Netanyahu said at the cabinet meeting that Zini was “the right man to lead the Shin Bet … someone who knows the system but is not part of it”, and that he had known him through his roles in the Israel Defense Forces, including posts that worked closely with the Shin Bet.[1]
The nomination was controversial. The Jerusalem Post reported claims that Netanyahu had a conflict of interest, because the Shin Bet was investigating Qatari influence on figures close to him in the “Qatargate” affair, and that the Attorney General had advised that Netanyahu should not make the appointment; he proceeded, prompting petitions to the High Court of Justice. The Senior Appointments Advisory Committee approved the appointment, stating that “no integrity issue” prevented Netanyahu from proposing Zini and that “no disqualifying concern was found in his candidacy”.[1] According to a later Jerusalem Post account, the High Court rejected the substantive challenge in December 2025 by two votes to one, with Isaac Amit dissenting; in September 2026 it ordered former Shin Bet officials who had petitioned to disclose their identities to Zini while keeping the ban on public disclosure.[2]
As director
Zini held his first working meeting with Netanyahu as director shortly after taking office.[3] In May 2026 the Jerusalem Post, citing a report in Haaretz, said that Zini had reportedly been barred from handling the Qatargate affair while the Shin Bet's opinion on it was being prepared.[4] See Shin Bet for the wider reporting.
Offices held
| Office | Start | End | Predecessor | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director, Shin Bet | 5 October 2025 | In office at November 2026 | Ronen Bar | [1] |
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Keshet Neev, with Sarah Ben-Nun and Yonah Jeremy Bob, Cabinet appoints Zini as next Shin Bet chief following controversy, The Jerusalem Post, 30 September 2025, accessed 11 November 2026.
- ↑ Sarah Ben-Nun, High Court orders former Shin Bet officials who challenged Zini appointment to reveal names, The Jerusalem Post, 3 September 2026, accessed 7 November 2026.
- ↑ Yonah Jeremy Bob, Netanyahu holds first working meeting with new Shin Bet chief David Zini, The Jerusalem Post, 5 October 2025, accessed 7 November 2026.
- ↑ Jerusalem Post staff, Shin Bet to change ‘Qatargate’ opinion says Urich, Feldstein didn’t harm state security - report, The Jerusalem Post, 7 May 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.