Major Scandal: Relative of Shin Bet Chief Suspected of Smuggling Goods to Gaza

A multi-suspect security affair is currently under investigation, involving the alleged transfer of goods from Israel to Gaza. This evening (Thursday), it was cleared for publication that one of the suspects is a relative of Shin Bet Chief David Zini; however, the Shin Bet chief has no connection whatsoever to the suspicions themselves. Due to the familial relationship, the investigation of the suspect is being conducted by the police, without Shin Bet involvement.

Judge Yaniv Ben Harosh wrote in his decision to narrow the gag order, allowing the details of the affair and the identity of the suspects to be published, that "I found that there are considerations supporting publication, even if partial." Ben Harosh explained that "one cannot deny the existence of a certain public interest given the circumstances of the case, in which a link to a senior public figure is alleged."

Ben Harosh emphasized that the various reports surrounding the affair in recent days can no longer be ignored, writing: "Certain media outlets have exposed more than a little in this matter. And while we must not accept a reality in which media bodies take the law into their own hands while violating gag orders, this reality cannot be ignored."

The judge further determined that continued disregard for publications regarding the details of the affair could aid conspiracies: "The court's ignoring of the dynamic media space is liable to assist in creating fertile ground for the development of conspiracy theories."

"In our case, this is all the more true, as conspiracy theories are liable to harm not only the good name of that senior public figure but also the organization he heads," he added.

Regarding his decision to publish the details partially, he wrote and emphasized that "in balancing all the interests and values before me, and in accordance with the two-stage test customary in cases of this type, I found that sweeping publication is liable to cause damage to the investigation."

Yosef Zini, the father of Shin Bet Chief David Zini, released an unusual statement about two days ago, when the existence of the affair was cleared for publication but without the identity of the suspects. In the statement, Zini claimed that this is a plot intended to harm him and his family, writing: "We have no doubt whatsoever that it is all a gross lie. And even if they bring a video and pictures supposedly proving it, there is no doubt that it was all fabricated in order to damage the 'suspect' and his family. Anyone who believes this story is akin to an accessory to the spilling of righteous blood!"

The security affair, defined as "very sensitive," is currently being examined by enforcement and security officials and is already causing significant reverberations within the defense establishment. The Ashkelon Magistrate's Court permitted the publication of the severe and classified security affair the day before yesterday, and today it was published that an indictment will be filed as early as next week against several suspects within the framework of the affair.

Attorney Asaf Klein, representing the Shin Bet chief's relative, addressed the publication and clarified: "My client completely denies the suspicions attributed to him, including the suspicion of partnership in smuggling goods to Gaza.

My client is a man of many rights, whose country's best interest has always been and will remain before his eyes." He further wrote that the suspect "reported for very significant reserve duty immediately upon the outbreak of the war, which greatly assisted in the achievements of the war while putting his life at risk, leaving his family behind, all for the benefit of the People of Israel and the State of Israel."

Finally, he wrote: "My client believes in his innocence and hopes that the decision-makers in the State Attorney's Office will be wise enough to make the right decision in his case and close the file against him."