Major General David Zini Appointed to Lead General Security Service Amidst Dispute Over Current Head’s Dismissal

Jerusalem, 22 May, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Netanyahu decided to appoint IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Major General David Zini as the next head of the Shin Bet (Israel’s anti-terror General Security Service).

However, the appointment could be moot after Wednesday night’s ruling by Israel’s High Court of Justice against the Israeli government’s dismissal of the outgoing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.

The High Court justices struck down the dismissal of Ronen Bar, calling his firing “improper,” “unlawful,” and tainted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conflict of interest.

As for Major General Zini, he served in many operational and command positions in the IDF, including: Sayeret Matkal (the elite special forces unit under the direct command of the IDF Chief of Staff), Battalion Commander in the Golani Infantry Brigade, Commander of the Egoz Infantry Regiment, founder of the Commando Brigade, and he currently serves as commander of the IDF’s Training and Exercise Command.

In March 2023, Major General Zini prepared a report for the commander of the Gaza Division to examine the division’s preparation for a complex surprise event, with an emphasis on a surprise raid, and to identify weaknesses.

As part of the report’s conclusions, Zini wrote that in almost any sector, a surprise raid on our forces could be carried out.