David Zini

The court rejected challenges to Zini’s integrity and the process behind his appointment, saying there were no grounds for judicial review. Justice Amit dissented, citing procedural flaws.

"The developments... are the dream of every intelligence officer – to recruit people who are in the closest proximity to the head of an organization or a head of state," he claimed.

'S' previously served as the agency's acting director after the departure of former chief Ronen Bar, who promoted him to deputy chief in January. 

According to the IDF, soldiers and police forces followed a report that "several Israeli civilians had slaughtered livestock and vandalized Palestinian property.

An attorney claimed the Shin Bet policy of relocating violent settlers into Israel proper has led to rising threats in mixed cities like Jaffa, endangering residents’ safety.

As Zini saw it, the price of future danger from releasing security prisoners and allowing Hamas to continue armed outweighed the price of losing the remaining hostages.

Ex-Shin Bet senior official Ilan Lotan also discussed former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar's recent speech, saying Bar is "now a private citizen, and I think the public expects to hear from him."

The IDF and Shin Bet have insisted that only a full state commission of inquiry has the legal authority to examine sensitive operational decisions.

Petitions by ex-intel chiefs and others argue Zini's lack of agency experience and flawed vetting compromise the Shin Bet's independence.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the scene, and blamed previous Shin Bet head Ronen Bar for not acting on Bedouin crime.