CNN
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The families of Israeli hostages in Gaza have blown up the newly selected head of Singh Bett’s security agency after it was reportedly opposed to the hostage trade.
According to news on Israeli Channel 12, Major General David Zinni said at a meeting of the general staff at the Israeli Defence Forces Conference (IDF) “I oppose the hostage trade. This is an eternal war.” report does not provide a specific date for Zini’s comments. Channel 12 says he was a position he has been a frequent repeat of over the past year.
“If the reports are accurate, these are shocking statements, particularly shocking statements that deserve a clear condemnation that comes from someone who is expected to hold the fate of a hostage in his hands,” the Hostage and Missing Family Forum said in a statement Friday.
In his current position as head of the IDF training command and general staff corps, Zini has little influence on hostage negotiations, and his personal beliefs are largely irrelevant to the process. However, if confirmed as Chin Bett’s head, Zini can play an important role considering the agency’s participation in previous rounds of indirect negotiations with Hamas.
“Appointing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s war against the return of hostages (Prime Minister Benjamin) is a crime against all the people of Israel, a blow to the value of solidarity and the sacred duty, and appointing a sacred duty to leave no one behind,” the Forum said.
When asked for comment, the IDF said it had not commented on the content discussed during general staff deliberations.
Gini’s career in the military was primarily a field officer with little experience in intelligence, a central aspect of Sinbet, formally referred to as the Israeli Security Agency.
Ruby Chen, father of an Israeli-American soldier Itai Chen, whose bodies are still held in Gaza, said on social media that “Netanyahu will appoint people who lack relevant skills to control the system into important positions.”
Netanyahu announced his appointment for Gini on Thursday, a day after the Israeli Supreme Court ruled there was a conflict of interest in laying off former Singh Bet chief Ronen Barr, and found he was unable to appoint a replacement.
In its decision, the court said, “The dismissal was made when the Prime Minister had a conflict of interest in light of his investigation into the matters of his fellow members. The decision was made without a foundation of fact, and a proper hearing was not held due to the head of Singh Bett.”
On Thursday, the Attorney General said: “There is a flaw in the appointment process, with serious concern that the Prime Minister acted against legal leadership and acted in a time when there was a conflict of interest.”
However, Netanyahu proceeded with his appointments anyway. The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement on Friday defending the decision. “This is an urgent security need, and delays are harmful to the safety of our nation and the safety of our soldiers,” he said. Netanyahu said on Friday that he has known Gini for years.
Zini’s choice as an active duty general was also unprecedented, urging IDF Chief Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to issue a statement that Zini will retire “in the coming days” before he wins the private Shin Bet Post.
This pick seemed to surprise the country’s highest general. He emphasized that “the discourse that IDF soldiers have made with the political class must be approved by the chief of the general.”
