The full cabinet on Tuesday night unanimously approved the appointment of David Zini as Shin Bet chief despite controversies over the selection to head the security agency, with his five-year tenure set to begin on October 5.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the appointment, stating that the reality after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre “mandated a new Shin Bet head that comes from outside the ranks of the organization,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The critical thinking that characterized Maj. Gen. Zini, in his various roles, his ability to think outside the box and adapt the system to a changing reality, alongside his extensive operational and command experience in force building and deployment, led to the conclusion that he is the most suitable person to lead the Shin Bet at this time,” the PMO said.

The candidacy of Zini, a former IDF general, was approved last week by the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee, which rejected the argument that Netanyahu was barred from proposing a candidate to head the Shin Bet while the agency was actively investigating his advisers over their allegedly illicit ties to Qatar.

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