Warnings that Netanyahu is using Zinni to postpone his trial under security pretexts

Israeli security sources have warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be using the Shin Bet security service to provide security cover to delay his court appearance in his ongoing corruption trial, Haaretz reported Sunday. This comes after Netanyahu appointed David Zinni to head the agency despite legal and security warnings.

Sources indicated that during his previous testimony, Netanyahu repeatedly pressured security chiefs to submit assessments alleging a threat to his life if he appeared in court, prompting judges in several sessions to limit or postpone his testimony.

According to the report, the Shin Bet is now "well-positioned" to repeatedly present such pretexts, amid growing fears that the agency will be politicized to serve Netanyahu's personal needs.

While Netanyahu's next trial session was scheduled to take place within the next two weeks, security sources warned that the prime minister was "preparing the groundwork for another postponement," in light of "a series of crises surrounding him, including the faltering war on Gaza, investigations into those close to him, the impasse over the conscription law, and the instability of his ruling coalition."

Netanyahu announced last Thursday the appointment of David Zinni as head of the Shin Bet security service. This decision came one day after the Supreme Court ruled that the dismissal of the agency's current head, Ronen Bar, was invalid due to a conflict of interest, and despite the position of the attorney general, who warned against Netanyahu's interference in the appointment of a new Shin Bet chief.

According to Haaretz, the appointment was not preceded by a formal meeting between Netanyahu and Zinni, with an informed source reporting that the meeting between them "lasted a few minutes in a vehicle." Furthermore, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir was not informed of the decision until minutes before its issuance, sparking widespread anger within the military.

After a tense meeting between Zini and Zamir, an agreement was announced for Zini's imminent departure from military service. However, the army's official statement later confirmed that "this does not constitute a dismissal."

The newspaper reported that Zinni lacks intelligence experience and adopted hardline positions during the war, saying in closed meetings, "I am against prisoner deals—this is an eternal war." Netanyahu also published excerpts from an old report prepared by Zinni regarding the Gaza Division's lack of preparedness for coordinated attacks, without mentioning the report's direct criticism of Netanyahu's "containment" policies toward Hamas.

In a related development, the issue of ratifying the appointment to the Senior Officials Appointment Committee, headed by retired judge Asher Grunis, has yet to be decided, amid legal ambiguity surrounding the legitimacy of proceeding with the appointment before the committee convenes, and amid expected petitions to the Supreme Court.

According to the report, government officials consider Zinni's appointment to be "the most challenging and provocative step" taken by Netanyahu since the outbreak of the war, amid fears that it could be followed by further escalatory steps, particularly toward Iran.