Israel’s High Court of Justice on Sunday approved a compromise between the government and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, resolving months of legal wrangling over the appointment of a new head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).
Under the agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will submit his nominee for the position to the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee — also known as the Grunis Committee — within 60 days. The panel will then assess the candidate’s suitability.
The nominee, widely expected to be Maj. Gen. David Zini, will be subject to a conflict of interest arrangement limiting his involvement in these cases unless explicitly authorized by the attorney general. Until a new permanent chief takes office, the agency will continue to be led by the acting head, known by the codename “S.”
The 60-day delay is intended to allow the Shin Bet to complete its role in two sensitive criminal investigations: the so-called Qatargate affair and a separate probe involving leaked classified documents—both reportedly linked to Netanyahu’s close associates.