David Zini

Bismuth tries to pit Shin Bet against High Court in election dispute

A letter from Boaz Bismuth asked the Shin Bet to address both foreign election threats and concerns stemming from a recent High Court ruling.

MK Boaz Bismuth attends a Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem July 8, 2025
Houthi supporters shout in Sanaa, Yemen June 25, 2026.

Houthis use ceasefire to upgrade capabilities, Pahlavi calls for 'week of action' in Iran

ISRAEL SECURITY Agency (Shin Bet) Director David Zini arrives to a Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City, April 20, 2026, as Israel commemorates its fallen soldiers and victims of terror.

Shin Bet head David Zini looking to cancel organization's Poland trips - report

ISRAEL SECURITY Agency (Shin Bet) Director David Zini arrives to a Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City, April 20, 2026, as Israel commemorates its fallen soldiers and victims of terror.

Zini cancels Shin Bet Pride event, slashes budget for all LGBT programming - report


Shin Bet chief Zini backs agency's Oct. 7 findings, defying PM narrative

Zini's siding with his agency's findings in its probe of October 7 against the prime minister's narrative is the first public break between the two after Zini remained silent on the issue for months.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Shin Bet Director David Zini, October 23, 2025.

Shin Bet employee indicted in Gaza smuggling affair alongside Bezalel Zini

State Attorney’s Office confirms charges in Lod District Court • Gag order remains in place.

Trucks carry aid for Palestinians, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 14, 2025.

Former Shin Bet chiefs, officials call out Netanyahu, Zini for 'conspiracies against Ronen Bar'

"We express astonishment at the silence of the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, in light of the unprecedented slander against former head of the service, Ronen Bar," the published letter said.

 ILLUSTRATION: Benjamin Netanyahu and Ronen Bar

Zini affair highlights the security and political costs of Gaza smuggling - opinion

Cigarette smuggling into Gaza becomes a national scandal as family ties, security doctrine, and politics collide.

Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief David Zini, suspected of smuggling cigarettes into Gaza, February 3, 2026.

Shin Bet chief's brother indicted for aiding Hamas during wartime in Gaza smuggling case

Zini, along with others, was charged with aiding the enemy during wartime, prohibited dealings in property for terror purposes, obtaining something by aggravated fraud, and accepting bribes.

Bezalel Zini, accused of smuggling cigarettes into the Gaza Strip, is seen on a screen at the Beersheba District Court, February 5, 2026

'Systematic, sophisticated operation': How millions of goods were smuggled into Gaza - explainer

According to the Southern District Attorney’s Office, this was an “organized, systematic, and sophisticated smuggling operation of various goods into the Gaza Strip in exchange for financial gain.”

Two suspects arrested after smuggling 80,000 cigarettes disguised as tissues.

Millions given to Gaza, Hamas: Twelve indicted in Gaza smuggling operation

The accused are believed to have been responsible for smuggling millions of shekels' worth of goods into Gaza for Hamas, both while the Gaza war was still ongoing and after the ceasefire began. 

HUNDREDS OF packets of cigarettes being smuggled.

Brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini suspected of smuggling cigarettes into Gaza

David Zini's father, Rabbi Yosef Zini, claimed that authorities' true target is not brother Bezalel, but the Shin Bet chief himself: "Most of the public understands this well."

Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief David Zini, suspected of smuggling cigarettes into Gaza, February 3, 2026.

Weapons smuggling via drones poses a threatening new reality for Israel - analysis

The drone smuggling threat is growing, as the last attempts occured on the Egyptian and now apparently also the Jordanian border.

 View of a new security drone in Efrat, in the West Bank

As Israel pushes back, Gaza becomes testing ground for emerging post-war governance - analysis

The emergence of a Palestinian technocratic governing committee alongside Trump’s US-backed Board of Peace has triggered sharp Israeli backlash, exposing cabinet rifts and deep unease.

Palestinians stand near the rubble in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, January 17, 2026